RENO, Nev. - Nevada Volleyball swept preseason Mountain West Volleyball favorites UTEP Saturday, winning 25-20, 25-22 and 25-21.
The Pack flew out of the gates in set one, going on a ten-point run, highlighted by middle,
Ceren Sert, earning two kills and three block assists. Leading 15-4, Nevada won five of the next seven points, gaining heavy production both offensively adn defensively from middles Sert and
Karly Bonaventure. UTEP then went on two five-point runs of their own, and with Landry Braziel the key producer in those runs, earning five kills to cut Nevada's lead to 21-18. The Wolf Pack then confidently closed out the set 25-20, winning four of the last six points capped by two Sert kills.
Set two started with more of the same for Nevada, with
Paige Thies and
Madison Long earning a combined four early kills to set the Pack's lead at 10-2. Both teams traded points up to the media timeout with Nevada leading 15-8. A
Mckaley Herr kill,
Lara Pacheco service ace and
Adriana Dorn solo block set up a three-point run for Nevada, stretching the lead out to 19-11. Much like the first set, the Miners didn't back down, winning three of the next six points before going on an eight-point run led by four kills from UTEP attacker Luvina Oguntimehin. That run tied the game at 22-22. A UTEP service error, Long/Bonaventure block and Dorn service aced closed out set two for Nevada 25-22.
The third set opened with back and forth play from both teams, with the Miners taking their only lead of the game at 3-2. Two bad sets and kills from Herr and Dorn led a four-point run for the Pack, taking the lead 6-3. Both teams ping ponged points, tying the set at 10-10. Long then stepped up for the Pack earning back to back kills, to put Nevada up 13-11. A team inspired, the Pack then won seven of the next ten points, with Sert and Dorn running the Nevada offense earning a combined four kills on that run. Both teams traded points late in the set, before Long set up set point for the Wolf Pack, which UTEP won with a Braziel kill. A
Mckaley Herr kill closed out the set 25-21 and secured the Pack match sweep and home series sweep.
Madison Long led the Wolf Pack with 10 kills on a .476 hitting percentage and added a match-high five blocks, while
Ceren Sert contributed eight kills on an efficient .583 hitting percentage with three blocks and a service ace.
Adriana Dorn delivered a well-rounded performance with five kills, 27 assists, two aces, five digs, and four blocks, helping direct Nevada's offense throughout the match.
Mckaley Herr added five kills, while
Paige Thies chipped in four kills and a service ace. Defensively,
Summer Suppik led the back row with 13 digs, followed by
Masyn Navarro's 10 digs, while
Karly Bonaventure matched Dorn with four blocks as Nevada received strong production both offensively and at the net.
