After struggling in the first two sets, Seattle University nearly extended its match against UNLV into a fourth set, but the Rebels were able to pull out a 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-18, 27-25) over the Redhawks Friday afternoon in the Invitational at Seattle at the Connolly Center.
Matea Mamic (Split, Croatia) led the Redhawks with 10 kills and a .261 hitting percentage, while six of Jelena Vujcin’s (Becej, Serbia) nine kills came in the third set. Iris Ivanis (Pozega, Croatia) collected six kills, nine digs, a service ace, and two blocks, Kerry Lane (Tucson, Ariz.) contributed 28 assists, three kills, eight digs, and three block assists, and Shelby Babcock (Chandler, Ariz.) added 12 defensive digs to the Redhawk effort.
“The girls played with intensity in the third set, and many of them posted impressive numbers, but we made too many errors earlier in the match and put ourselves in a hole we were unable to climb out of,” Seattle U head volleyball coach James Finley said. “Matea played well throughout the match, but as a team, we need to play better in order to see success.”
UNLV (7-2) scored four straight points early in the first set to take an 8-5 lead, and then used a 7-1 scoring run to extend the lead to 18-10. Seattle U closed the gap to six at 20-14 on a block by Lane and Stephanie Stoll (Bellevue, Wash.), but the Rebels finished off the opening set thanks to two kills by Bree Hammel as well as a kill on set point by Alyssa Wing.
The Redhawks jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the second set, and then reestablished a four-point lead at 10-6 on consecutive kills by Mamic as well as a service ace from Martina Samadan (Split, Croatia). The Rebels scored seven unanswered points to pull ahead, 18-14, led by a kill and two block assists apiece from Ceannia Kincade and Katlin Winters. UNLV closed out the second set with a 6-2 scoring run, culminating with a kill by Hammel.
Mamic notched consecutive kills to begin the third set, and then Vujcin earned three kills as part of a 7-1 Redhawk scoring run that put the home team in front, 15-11. Down by three later in the set, UNLV took advantage of Seattle U attack errors to eventually take the lead, 21-20. The Redhawks held off two UNLV match points, but back-to-back attack errors by Seattle U ended the set and the match in UNLV’s favor.
Hammel led UNLV with eight kills and a .571 hitting percentage, while Kincade and Wing finished with seven kills apiece. UNLV setter Alexis Patterson collected 29 assists, seven digs, and two block assists, while Rebel libero Allison Davies led her team with 12 defensive digs.
Seattle University (2-6) concludes the weekend by hosting UC Davis at the Connolly Center Saturday night, Sept. 13, starting at 7 p.m. in the final match of the Invitational at Seattle. UC Davis will also face UNLV at the Connolly Center earlier Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. Live stats and live video for both matches will be available on GoSeattleU.com.