LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV volleyball saved its biggest push for the final set Sunday afternoon, rallying from a five-point deficit to force extra points against No. 18 TCU before the Horned Frogs ultimately prevailed, 3-0, on the final day of the Players Era Volleyball Showcase at T-Mobile Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Rebels (0-2) battled their second nationally ranked opponent in as many days at the Players Era Volleyball Showcase, but TCU (1-1) held on for a 25-17, 25-16, 33-31 victory. While the final score went down as a straight-set loss, the third set provided UNLV with its strongest stretch of the weekend. The Scarlet & Gray trailed 20-15 before beginning their late comeback. After TCU made it 22-17, UNLV scored six of the next seven points to tie the set at 23-23. The teams traded points from there. The Rebs reached set point at 24-23, only for TCU to answer. The Rebels again tied the set at 25-25, then continued to fight through multiple extra-point opportunities. After TCU went ahead 28-27, a Horned Frogs attack error tied it up at 28-28.
The Horned Frogs eventually moved ahead 30-29, but UNLV once again refused to let the set end. The Rebels tied the score at 30-30 thanks to a Basia Latos kill, then followed it up with a Kamiera Watkins kill to go ahead 31-30. TCU later tied the set again at 31-31 before they finally secured the final two points to escape with the 33-31 victory.
UNLV's late-set surge was fueled by Latos, who delivered her best offensive performance of the weekend. The junior outside hitter finished with a match-high 14 kills on 34 attacks while hitting .265. She also recorded six digs and finished with 14.5 points. Jada Ingram added six kills on 15 attacks and hit a team-best .333 among UNLV players with at least 10 attempts. Arrie Brown contributed three kills and two block assists, including a block alongside Watkins during the early portion of the third set. Watkins later provided an important offensive spark, recording a kill in the closing stages of the marathon set.
At setter, Alexa Ankerstar directed the UNLV attack with 21 assists and added five digs. She also delivered a service ace during the third-set comeback, helping the Rebels pull within 23-22 before Latos followed with a kill to tie the set at 23-23. Defensively, King led UNLV with seven digs, while Latos contributed six. The Rebels finished with 35 digs as a team. UNLV finished the match with 33 kills on 108 attacks for a .139 hitting percentage. The Rebels also recorded 10 block assists and two service aces.
TCU countered with a balanced attack that produced 47 kills and a .264 hitting percentage. Evan Hendrix led the team with 13 kills and added 11 digs for a double-double, while Jalyn Gibson and Becca Kelley each added eight. Reese Robins and Kinsley Young contributed seven and six kills apiece, respectively.
UP NEXT: The Rebels head to Boise for Boise State Classic where they will face Idaho State on September 3, the host Broncos on September 4 and North Dakota State on September 5.
