NORTHRIDGE, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) - After taking a two-set lead, UNLV watched San Francisco rally to win the final three sets and escape with a 3-2 victory on the final day of the Linda Murphy Ridge Invitational at Premier America Credit Union Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The loss dropped UNLV to 1-7 on the season and capped a weekend in which the Rebels went 1-2, with all three matches going five sets. UNLV had snapped a six-match losing streak with a five-set victory over Fresno State on Saturday before San Francisco handed the Rebels their third five-set loss of the season. UNLV's inability to maintain its early offensive efficiency ultimately proved costly. The Rebels finished with 56 kills on 175 attacks and a .171 hitting percentage, while San Francisco produced 62 kills on 165 attacks and hit .242. The Dons also held advantages in assists (57-48), digs (75-64), service aces (13-10) and points (83-73).
Basia Latos once again led the Rebels, recording 19 kills on 50 attacks while hitting .260. She also added 10 digs, one block assist and one service ace to finish with a team-high 20.5 points. Jaida Harris was equally important, posting 15 kills while hitting .224. Harris added 10 digs, two aces and a block assist to finish with 17.5 points. Together, Latos and Harris accounted for 34 of UNLV's 56 kills and provided the bulk of the Rebels' offensive production. Jada Ingram added nine kills while hitting .273, while Rheanna Deen-Jackson contributed six kills and a team-high five blocks. Ingram also registered three total blocks, giving UNLV a strong presence in the middle with a slight 13-12 advantage in blocks.
Behind the attack, Kamryn Scroggins finished with 22 assists, three service aces and eight digs, while Alexa Ankerstar added 17 assists. Defensively, Caleigh King led all Rebels with 16 digs, while Arrie Brown recorded three aces, matching Scroggins for the team lead. But, San Francisco gradually found a way to disrupt UNLV's rhythm.
The Dons were led by Petra Fritz, who delivered a match-high 21 kills on 54 attacks while hitting .259. Katariina Korhonen added 14 kills and 19 digs, while Emma Neukirchen finished with 11 kills and four service aces. San Francisco setter Jordan Smart also gave the Dons a steady presence with 24 assists and four aces. The Dons committed only 22 attack errors compared with 26 for UNLV and finished with a .242 hitting percentage. UNLV's offense, meanwhile, became increasingly difficult to sustain as the match progressed, including a .029 hitting percentage during the fourth set before hitting .217 in the deciding frame.
The fifth set was especially competitive, with both teams finishing with eight kills. UNLV actually hit a respectable .217 in the deciding frame, but the Scarlet & Gray committed four errors in the final set, including three attack errors.
UP NEXT: The Rebels return home to host The Rebel Challenge September 18-20 where they host Southeastern Louisiana, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.
