UNLV volleyball handed the No. 19 nationally ranked Kansas Jayhawks their first loss of the season in four sets, 3-1 (25-22, 27-25, 18-25, 25-19), Friday afternoon in Lawrence, KS. With the win, the Rebels (7-1) took home the title of the Kansas Invitational.
Trailing 18-17, the Rebels scored five straight points to take the lead and hold on to win the first set. In the second set, Kansas had an opportunity to put away the Rebels with a 25-24 lead, but kills from Dakota Quinlan and Gabrielle Arretche-Rammos gave UNLV the second set win.
The Jayhawks overcame an early 6-0 deficit to take the third set. In the final set, the Rebels fended off a 4-0 run and scored the last four points to win the last set 25-19.
The win is UNLV’s second against a nationally ranked opponent since 2016 (Sept. 4, 2021 against No. 25 Washington State).
On Thursday, the Rebels swept Wichita State 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-15) to win the first game of the Kansas Invitational.
The first set went back and forth with UNLV scoring the last two points after Wichita State tied the set 23-23. In the second set, UNLV went on a 12-0 run and never looked back to take the second set. And despite a late rally attempt by Wichita State, UNLV managed to win the last set comfortably.
The Rebels head to Utah on Friday for the Southern Utah Invitational. They play a doubleheader against Idaho State (11 a.m) and Southern Utah (6 p.m.) on Sept. 16. UNLV faces off against Utah Tech on Sept. 17 at 2 p.m.
Men’s soccer
In San Diego, the Aztecs scored in bunches as they defeated the Rebels 5-0 Friday night.
San Diego State’s CJ Fodrey scored seven minutes into the game and the rout was on. Elias Katsaros added another midway through the first half for a 2-0 lead.
Austin Brummett, Donovan Roux, and So Nishikawa each scored for San Diego State in the second half as they outshot UNLV 19-7, and a 6-1 advantage on shots on goal.
The Rebels played their first home game last Sunday against CSU-Northridge and fell 2-1.
Enrique Pineda registered a goal with a few minutes before the first half. Later in the second half, UNLV’s Gabe Sanchez scored on a penalty kick.
But just four minutes later, Jack Rhead scored that game-deciding goal for CSU-Northridge. The Rebels lost despite outshooting the Matadors 13-11.
The Rebels host the University of the Pacific on Sept.15 at 8:30 p.m. and Sacramento State on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m., both games will be at Peter Johann Memorial Field.
Cross Country
Sophomore Natalia Ruiz finished in second place (17:39.3) in the women’s 5K at the Mark Covert Classic at Carbon Canyon Regional Park last weekend, as the UNLV women’s cross country team opened their season.
As a team, the Rebels finished in 10th place with a team time of 1:41.54 and a score of 246 points. Cal State Fullerton, who was the host of the event, was the top team with a time 1:32.38.
McKaylie Caesar took first place for Cal State Fullerton in the 5K with a time of 17:29.9. Of the 167 runners competing in the event, six Rebel runners finished in the top-100.
