Photo credit: UNLV Volleyball
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team (8-4) swept Lamar on Saturday afternoon at the Cox Pavilion to win its fourth match in a row and go 3-0 at its home tournament to claim the Rebel Challenge title.
UNLV recorded a new season high for hitting percentage at .479 as it made quick work of the Cardinals by scores of 25-5, 25-15 and 25-13.
UNLV held Lamar (0-11) to just .034 hitting and was led by Madi Kelly’s career-high and match-high 11 kills. Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos was also in double figures in kills for the Rebels with 10. UNLV had six players hit .471 or better for the match. Jenna Howard had a match-high 18 assists.
Lyric Jordan had six kills for Lamar (0-11), while Jo Moffitt had 13 assists.
UNLV recorded 12 service aces to Lamar’s zero and led in kills (43-14), assists (36-14) and digs (25-14).
Saturday marked just the second meeting all-time between the two programs. The first occurred in 2003, which was also a UNLV victory.
TOURNEY RECAP: UNLV went undefeated at the Rebel Challenge with wins over Coppin State (3-0) on Thursday, Portland (3-1) on Friday and Lamar Saturday.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM: UNLV’s Isabel Martin was named the MVP of the Rebel Challenge, while the all-tournament team included Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos (UNLV), Madi Kelly (UNLV), Geraldyn Palacios (Coppin State), Laila Ibrahim (Coppin State), Maui Robins (Portland), Kili Robins (Portland) and Lyric Jordan (Lamar).
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will open its Mountain West season with a Tuesday NightBlock Party this coming Tuesday, Sept. 19against San Diego State at the Cox Pavilion. The match will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will also be Greek Night.
PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets for UNLV volleyball may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com or by calling 702-739-FANS(3267). Season tickets are $50 for adults (13 and older), and $40 for active alumni, seniors, and faculty and staff. Single-game tickets are also available. Kids 12 and under receive free admission.
NEWS & NOTES:
- The Rebels, who are led by first-year head coach Malia Shoji, returned 11 letterwinners from last season’s Mountain West regular-season championship team.
- UNLV, which has been named the preseason league favorite along with Utah State in a poll voted on by the conference’s head coaches, has added five new players to their 2023 roster.
- 2022 Mountain West Player of the Year Isabel Martin is back and was also named the 2023 Preseason MW Player of the Year.
- Also returning are last season’s all-conference honorees: senior outside hitter Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos and senior middle blocker Jordyn Freeman.
- Martin also earned all-region honors last season and was named an honorable mention All-American.
- UNLV went 26-5 overall in 2022, including a 17-1 record in Mountain West play, and made another NCAA Tournament appearance.
