LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Nevada volleyball team dropped the first match of the Silver State Series against in-state rival UNLV in four sets. The Wolf Pack moves to 8-9, 1-5 in conference while the Rebels go to 13-5, 4-2 in Mountain West play.
The match scores were as follows, 16-25, 26-24, 13-25, 23-25, with Nevada winning the second set. In that second set, the Wolf Pack out hit the Rebels .343 to .265 but that was not the only set that Nevada out hit UNLV. In the fourth, the Pack hit .179 versus the Rebel .167.
The sophomore setter,
McKayla Wuensch started again for the Pack and picked up her second double-double of the season, after she notched her first against New Mexico. Wuensch put up 38 assists and 10 digs while the 38 assists is also a career high, beating her previous best of 35 which she also set against New Mexico.
Nevada was led offensively by three outside hitter in
Jamila Minor,
Kayla Afoa and
Shiloh Peleras; all of whom has 10 kills on the night. On defense,
Hailey Maniglia has four block assists to take the team high. The Wolf Pack had eight total blocks.
UNLV got off to a 4-0 lead in the first set but Nevada rallied mid-way through after a Peleras kill to cut the lead to two, 11-13. The Rebels extended its lead and finished the first set collecting five of the last six points to win it, 25-16.
In the second set, it was played much closer to the point that there was only a three point difference at any given time in the match. The teams exchanged three point scoring runs before being tied at every 20+ point. An
Ashley Maki service ace tied it up 24-24, a Maniglia kill took the 25-24 lead and a huge block assist from Minor and Maniglia sealed the deal.
The Rebels got hot in the third set and went on a five-point scoring run, the longest of the match. Nevada tried to make a comeback collecting three kills in a row but the offensive attack from the UNLV front was too much. In the fourth set, the Pack fought hard down to the last point but two service aces from Mariena Hayden took the set and the match.
Next for the Pack is a Tuesday match up with San Jose State and a Saturday afternoon match at Air Force. Nevada returns to home play on Oct. 18 to take on Fresno State at 6:30 p.m. PT.
