Box Score COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Nevada (1-0) volleyball won its season opener 3-1 over Utah Valley University (0-1) by scores of 25-20, 14-25, 25-21 and 25-22 in the Hearnes Center at the Missouri Tiger Invitational on Friday afternoon. The Wolf Pack will play Maryland and Missouri on Saturday.
In set one Nevada jumped to a 7-0 lead but had to fight off the Wolverines to escape with the 25-20 first set victory. The Pack hit .303 in the first frame and UVU .280.
There were four ties and three lead changes in set two before UVU scored the final seven points to win easily 25-14. Nevada hit a negative .136 compared to the Wolverines .348 attack percentage.
Set three went back and forth with 11 ties and three lead changes but the Pack took the set 25-21 to take 2-1 advantage in the match. Senior Kylie Harrington combined with junior setter Tatiana Santiago for a block on the final point of the set. Nevada had its best hitting set of the match at .344 as did the Wolverines at .370.
The Pack trailed early in set four but rallied to tie the score at 13-13 and the sixth and final tie of the set came at 19-19. Nevada scored the next three points but UVU closed within one at 23-22. Following a Pack timeout Harrington recorded back-to-back kills on assists from Santiago to give Nevada the 25-22 set victory and 3-1 match win.
Reno freshman outside hitter Grace Anxo led the Pack with 12 kills and 11 digs to post a double-double in her first collegiate match. Junior Erin Garvey added 10 kills as Nevada totaled 47. Santiago tied for match-high honors with 29 assists and libero Nicole Link had 10 digs.
Chelsey Heaps led UVU with a match-high 17 kills while setter Brookelyn Campbell tied for match-high honors with 29 assists and Kylie Doxey added 12 digs.
Nevada hit .198 for the match and UVU .245. The Pack held a 7-5 blocking advantage with Santiago leading the way with four blocks followed by Anxo's three. Erica Nish topped the Wolverines with four blocks in the match.
