Volleyball Summer Preview - UNLV
Monday, June 29, 2009 | Volleyball
By: Sean Cartell
UF Communications
Editor's Note: Over the next 19 days, GatorZone.com will preview each of the team's upcoming matches on the 2009 schedule in chronological order. Today's feature is the team's season-opener UNLV.
MATCH INFO
- Florida vs. UNLV (Campus USA Credit Union Invitational)
- Friday, August 28, 2009
- Stephen C. O'Connell Center – Gainesville, Fla.
- Series Info – UF leads 2-0
- Last Meeting: UF def. UNLV, 3-0 (A) – November 29, 2008
UNLV QUICK FACTS
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Colors: Scarlet and Gray
Nickname: Rebels
Conference: Mountain West
Head Coach: Allison Keeley
Record at UNLV: 90-57/5 years
Career Record: 129-95/8 years
2008 Record: 16-14
2008 Conference Record/Finish: 9-7/T4th
Starters Returning/Lost: 4/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 12/5
Newcomers: 2
THE SCOOP
Florida will open the 2009 regular season the same way it closed the 2008 regular season, by facing Mountain West Conference member UNLV. The two teams will square off on August 28, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational hosted by Florida.
The Gators easily defeated the Rebels last season in Las Vegas, Nev., using a triple-double by freshman Kelly Murphy to notch their 25th victory of the season and allow Florida to extend its nation-leading streak of consecutive 25-win seasons to 18.
UNLV finished its 2008 season with a 16-14 record, including a 9-7 mark in Mountain West Conference play, which tied for fourth in the league. The Rebels return four starters from a year ago, including middle blocker Erin Greenwood, who led the team in blocks (77) and ranked second in kills (280) and kills per set (2.64). She ranks fourth all-time in school history in hitting percentage (.275) and total blocks (227).
Defense has always been a staple of Coach Allison Keeley's program at UNLV, as the Rebels have led the Mountain West Conference in digs per set in each of the past five years. Last season, they averaged a league-leading 15.93 average, but senior Camille Cunningham, who in 2008 ranked 25th in the nation in digs, has completed her eligibility.
THE MATCH-UP (USING 2008 FINAL STATS)
| Statistical Category | Florida | Adv. | UNLV |
| Kills Per Set | 13.47 | 3 | 13.15 |
| Assists Per Set | 12.51 | 3 | 11.95 |
| Service Aces Per Set | 1.53 | 3 | 1.05 |
| Digs Per Set | 13.26 | 4 | 15.97 |
| Blocks Per Set | 2.25 | 3 | 1.62 |
STANDOUT GATOR PERFORMANCES VS. UNLV
All from Nov. 29, 2008 match-up in Las Vegas, Nev. – Box Score
- Kelly Murphy – 13 kills, 17 assists, 15 digs
- Cassandra Anderson – 8 kills, 5 blocks
- Elyse Cusack – 16 digs, 6 assists, 2 aces
- Lauren Bledsoe – 7 kills, .636 hitting percentage
