RENO, Nev. - Nevada Volleyball opened Mountain West play, Thursday, beating Grand Canyon in five sets (25-27, 27-25, 25-21, 22-25, 16-14).
The Pack faced strong attacking play from the Lopes early in set one, with Starr Williams earning three kills early on. The Pack trailed 15-11 at the media timeout, before going on a seven-point run, capped by three consecutive service aces from Lara Pacheco to earn an 18-17 lead. The teams traded back and forth before the Lopes pulled away with a couple of late runs to win the set 27-25.
Set two was a tight battle from the opening point, with both teams tied at 5-5, 10-10 and 14-14. The Pack won five of the next six points, led by strong attacking play from Paige Thies and Madison Long, forcing a Grand Canyon timeout. The Lopes responded strongly, tying the game at 20-20, leading to an enthralling back and forth end to the set, where the Pack eventually ran the set out 27-25.
Set three was once again a tight affair, with efficient attacking play from both sides tying the game at 6-6 and 14-14. The Pack went on a three point run late in the set, led by two Thies kills and an Adriana Dorn ace to force a Lopes timeout up 21-17. Both teams traded points late before two consecutive Long kills closed out the set in Nevada's favor 25-21.
Close openings seemed to be the theme of the night, with both teams trading points to be deadlocked at 7-7 early in the fourth. Two kills from the Lopes' Macey Hughes inspired a run leading Grand Canyon to a 15-11 lead at the media timeout. Back and forth play ensued before a three-point run capped by another Dorn ace cut the lead to 19-17. The teams then traded three-point runs before the Lopes closed out the set 25-21.
The Wolf Pack won the first two points of set five off the back of a Long kill and solo block, before the Lopes went on a four-point run to lead 4-2. Strong attacks from Williams extended that lead to 9-4. The Pack then won five of the next six points off the back of great defense at the net. Two Long kills kept the Pack in a point for point exchange late in the set, tying the game at 13-13. The Lopes' Macey Hughes then earned a kill to set up match point for Grand Canyon, before a Long kill and Pacheco ace set up the Pack for match point, which was won by a tip kill for Mckaley Herr, giving the Pack a huge win in the conference opener.
Madison Long led the Wolf Pack with a career and match-high 22 kills while hitting an impressive .463, and Paige Thies added a double-double with 16 kills and 16 digs, along with four service aces. Malia Pilimai contributed 11 kills, while Ceren Sert added nine kills on a .467 hitting percentage and Karly Bonaventure chipped in seven kills and two blocks. Running the offense, Adriana Dorn recorded a double-double with a career-high 51 assists and 10 digs, adding five kills and four aces, while Masyn Navarro anchored the back row with a match-high 22 digs and five assists. Lara Pacheco also made a major impact from the service line with five aces to go along with eight digs as Nevada were anchored by strong performances from the whole roster.
The Pack will return to Virginia Street Gym tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Grand Canyon looking for a series sweep.
