RENO, Nev. – Nevada volleyball secures its home opener against the Montana State Bobcats 3-1 at Virginia Street Gym Thursday evening.
 
Leading the Pack was Gabby McLaughlin and Sia Liilii with 18 and 17 kills respectively, while Tehya Maeva tallied 44 assists, Hikialani Kaohelaulii recorded 21 digs, and Bella Snyder earned a hitting percentage of .350.
 
This was the 15^th meeting between the two teams, Montana State leading 6-7 overall, with their last matchup in 2015.
 
Kicking things off for Nevada, McLaughlin tallied a kill to put the Pack up 1-0 early in the first set. The Bobcats went on a 4-0 run to take the lead 14-12 before an attack error by Montana State's Jourdain Kamps brought the Pack within one. Montana State forced the Pack to call timeout after the Bobcats extended their lead by three, 18-15. The Pack continued to fight, as two back-to-back kills by Liilii put Nevada within two to keep the set alive, 20-18. The Bobcats momentum was cut short as a kill from Schwartz and an attack error by Montana State's Emma Pence put Nevada only down by one before a called timeout by the Bobcats. Montana State bounced back after tallying a kill from Kira Thomsen and Nevada's McLaughlin recorded an attack error, extending the Bobcats lead by three. Nevada tied it all up at 23-23 by McLaughlin's third kill of the set, but ultimately Montana State took the first set 25-23 by two.
 
The Pack started off the second set continuing the momentum from the first, going up on the Bobcats 4-1 from two kills by Snyder and McLaughlin, and two attack errors by Montana State. The Bobcats closed the gap to take the lead 11-7, going on a 7-0 run. Montana State continued to extend the lead by five before the Pack came within one before forcing the Bobcats to call a timeout. Nevada took the lead 19-18 by back-to-back kills from McLaughlin, marking her fourth of the set, and seventh of the evening. The Pack took the second set 25-22 after an attack error by the Bobcats, tying the match up at 1-1.
 
The back-and-forth showdown between the Pack and the Bobcats continued to start off the third, before the Montana State went on a 4-1 run to take the lead 10-7. Nevada fired back with their own 5-1 run to go up on the Bobcats by one. Liilii recorded two kills in a row, her 13^th of the match, to help secure a three-point lead over Montana State, 16-13. Nevada reached set point on a 5-2 run, to ultimately take set three 25-21 after two kills from Snyder and one by McLaughlin, going up 2-1 over Montana State with a match win in their sights heading to set four.
 
Nevada took an early 4-1 lead over the Bobcats with three kills from McLaughlin, her 14^th of the match, and one a piece from Maeva and Snyder, who have tallied a combined seven kills. The Pack extended their lead, going up on Montana State 15-6 before forcing Montana State to call timeout. It was all Nevada, as they continued to extend their lead by 12, 21-8, marking their largest lead of the set, match, and so far on the season. The Bobcats tried to battle back and keep the set alive after Nevada reached set point, but the Pack would win the set and match 25-18, to secure the home opener win 3-1.
 
 
Up next
The Pack will return to Virginia Street Gym Saturday, taking on the California Bears at 11 a.m. Tickets start at $7 at www.mynevadatickets.com, and all prices at concessions will be half off from when doors open through the first set.