University of Nevada Athletics

Upcoming Nevada Matches

 

 

2008 NOTES

 

NEVADA OPENS WAC PLAY WITH ROAD MATCHES AT LOUISIANA TECH AND NEW MEXICO STATE:
 After splitting eight nonconference matches to open the 2008 season the University of Nevada volleyball team opens Western Athletic Conference play on the road at Louisiana Tech (1-5) on Thursday and then travel to New Mexico State (5-6) for a match on Saturday.  Both matches start at 7:00 p.m. local time.
 The Wolf Pack enter their ninth season in the WAC and has compliled a 73-47 record in the previous eight years.  The Pack has posted winning seasons each year in the conference and have produced four 10 win seasons including last year’s 10-6 record which earned them a fourth place finish. 
 In WAC play the Pack has won all 10 meetings with LTU while NMSU holds 4-2 advantage over Nevada.  LTU was picked to finish last in the preason coaches’ poll and the Aggies were selected to place second behind Hawai`i.

Nevada vs. WAC Teams In Conference Play Only
Team  Record
Boise State  13-1
Fresno St.  10-6
Hawai`i  0-16
Idaho  4-2
Louisiana Tech 10-0
New Mexico State 2-4
SJSU  9-7
Utah State  3-3
vs. schools no longer in the WAC  
SMU, UTEP, Rice, Tulsa, TCU 22-4 
TOTAL  73-43

THE WAC RACE
 The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine are once again the favorites to win the WAC title after capturing the previous 12 in a row.  UH has also captured the last eight WAC Tournament championships. 
 In the preseason WAC coaches poll the Wolf Pack is picked to finish sixth after garnering 34 points in the voting by the conference coaches.  UH totaled 64 points followed by New Mexico State with 57.  Idaho and San Jose State tied for third with 42 points each.  Utah State tallied 40 poll points followed by the Wolf Pack with 34.  Boise aState(20), Fresno State(16) and Louisiana Tech(9) round out the poll.
 A year ago the WAC sent two teams to the NCAA Tournament as UH earned the automatic bid after winning the conference tournament.  NMSU received an at large bid for the second year in a row.  Hawai`i lost in round two while the Aggies fell in the first round of the tournament.

BALDWIN AND HARRINGTON NAMED TO AT&T ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:  Nevada placed two on the AT&T Invitational All-Tournament team in sophomores Lindsay Baldwin and Kylie Harrington.  Baldwin was honored for the second week in a row after being named to the Nevada Invitational All-Tournament team the previous week.  She averaged 2.17 kills, 1.25 blocks, 3.92 points and hit .267 in the the three matches as the Pack went 2-1.
 Harrington averaged 3.42 kills, 2.00 digs, 3.25 points and hit .204 in the three matches.  She posted a career-high 19 kills in Nevada’s 3-1 win over Missouri.  It was the second time this season she was named to an all-tournament squad after grabbing the honor at the Shamrock Invitational the opening weekend of the season.

STAKER PROBABLE FOR WAC OPENERS:  Junior right side hitter Jorgan Staker,  who has missed the last four matches since spraining her ankle in set two versus UCLA is probable for the first weekend WAC play.  Staker leads the team with a .308 attack percentage and is second averaging .83 blocks per set.

NEVADA LED BY UNDERCLASSMEN:  The 2008 Nevada volleyball team continues to be led by underclassmen which make up 63 percent of the roster.  Of the 16 members on the squad 10 are underclassmen.  The 10 breaks down to four sophomores, a red shirt freshman and five true freshmen.  All four sophomores Lindsay Baldwin, Jessica Daum, Kylie Harrington and Nicole Link have see action.  Red shirt freshman Brittni Yates along with three of the true freshmen Erin Garvey, Tatiana Santiago and Kylee Vance have seen action this season.  Taylor Brown and Brittany Woodard are the other two freshmen that are scheduled to redshirt.  Of the 10 currently five are starters in Baldwin, Harrington, Link, Yates and Garvey.

GARVEY PRODUCTIVE IN STARTING ROLE :  Freshman Erin Garvey who has been starting since junior Jorgan Staker sprained her ankle in set two versus UCLA has filled in nicely.  Garvey is averaging 1.62 kills per set in her four starts and hitting .171.  She posted a career-high 10 kills in the Pack’s 3-2 win over UC Davis and totaled nine in a 3-1 victory over Seattle.  During the stretch she is also averaging .62 blocks and 1.94 points per set.

SCRUGGS NEARING 200 :  Head coach Devin Scruggs in nearing 200 career wins all coming at Nevada.  In her 12th season she has posted a career mark of 193-137, leaving her seven wins shy of 200.  During her tenure the Pack has made five NCAA Tournament appearances in 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005.  The 1998 and 2002 teams won a school record 22 matches.  Since her arrival at Nevada 29 players have earned all-conference honors, 10 first team and 19 second team.  Michelle More in 2002 and Salaia Salave`a in 2005 garnered AVCA All-West Region honors.  Salave`a was an honorable mention All-America selection in 2005.

PACK 4-4 AFTER THREE WEEKENDS OF PLAY:  Playing tough competition in three tournaments to start the season Nevada went 4-4.  The Wolf Pack opened the season going 1-2 at the Shamrock Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.  The next two weekends the Pack hosted the Nevada and AT&T Invitationals.  Nevada split its two matches in the Nevada Invitational falling to No. 6 UCLA.  Last weekend at the AT&T Invitational the Pack went 2-1 versus a tough field.  Nevada defeated Missouri and UC Davis before falling to No. 24 Pepperdine in the title match