Oct. 3, 2008
LAS VEGAS - San Diego State got double-figure kill total from three players, but it wasn't enough to overcome UNLV as the Rebels defeated the Aztecs in four sets (25-20, 18-25, 25-23, 25-19) Friday evening at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. The win kept UNLV in second place in the Mountain West Conference as they improved to 3-1 in league play and 10-7 overall. SDSU, meanwhile, saw its record drop to 4-10 as it lost for the third consecutive time in MWC action to drop to 1-3 in the standings.
For the 11th time this season, middle blocker Lauren Salisbury led San Diego State with 13 kills and also recorded a season-high nine total blocks, one shy of her career high set last November against Brigham Young. Outside hitter Stephanie Darnall finished with a dozen kills and also had seven digs and a block.
In addition, freshman setter Lauren Van Orden had 11 kills for the third time this fall and completed her fourth double-double of the season with 15 assists. She notched nine digs and three blocks to complete a fine all-around effort.
The Aztecs also had a trio of players (including Van Orden) reach double figures in digs led by libero Michelle Ferrer's 19, the second-highest total of her career. Setter Leah Lathrop chipped in with 15 digs along with 21 assists for her first double-double of 2008 and the eighth of her Aztec career.
UNLV's Samantha Richard led all players with 14 kills while teammates Leah Maurer and Erin Greenwood had 11 and 10 respectively. Libero Camille Cunningham had 28 digs and was one of three Rebels in double figures in that category as well.
The Rebels led the match in kills (62-50), hitting percentage (.235-.153), assists (61-46) and digs (76-66) en route to the four-set win. The Aztecs were dominant at the net defensively with 14 team blocks to jut three by the home team. In addition to Salisbury's nine, freshman Kyley Sexton set a career high with five including a pair of solo efforts.
UNLV got off to a quick start in the opening set, winning five of the first six points and maintaining that margin the rest of the way. Maurer and Jessica Walters had four kills apiece for UNLV while Salisbury matched that total for the Aztecs.
The second set was close early with San Diego State taking a 7-6 lead. From that point, the Aztecs rattled off eight straight points on five kills and three UNLV attack errors to take a commanding15-6 advantage. Salisbury and Darnall had four kills apiece while no Rebel had more than two as SDSU went on to win by seven points.
Twelve ties and four lead changes highlighted the third set, one that San Diego State will feel it let get away. After trailing by two at 17-15, the Aztecs came back to eventually knot the score at 22-all. But a kill by Kyley Sexton wasn't enough to offset kills for UNLV by Maurer and Richard plus an Aztec attack error as the Rebels took the two-point win.
Holding a two-set-to-one lead in the match, UNLV took control of the fourth set, leading from start to finish to close out the contest. The Rebels were efficient on offense, hitting .314 to .091 for San Diego State as they finished off the match by winning four of the final five points including a pair of kills by Richard.
Up next for San Diego State is a trip to Utah where it will face 21st-ranked Brigham Young next Thursday, Oct. 9, at 7:00 p.m. (MDT) in Provo.