TCU
UNLV*
TCU Rebounds With Big Win Over UNLV, 3-1
10/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 25, 2008
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU Horned Frogs rebounded from a tough loss on Thursday to defeat the UNLV Rebels 3-1 (28-26, 15-25, 25-13, 25-22) Saturday afternoon at the University Rec Center. An outstanding defensive effort by the Frogs proved to be the key factor in the win as they tallied 73 digs and 14 blocks. Nirelle Hampton notched her second straight double-double (45 assists, 16 digs). She was joined by Lauren Otto (18 kills, 13 digs) and Irene Hester (10 kills, 10 digs).The Frogs were good in all facets of the game and needed to be against a tough UNLV squad. Three Frogs reached double-digits in kills with Otto's 18, 15 from Christy Hudson and 10 from Irene Hester. Kourtney Edwards was big up front with nine total blocks. Defensively, five Frogs tallied at least 10 digs. Along with Hampton's team-high 16, Otto's 13, Katelyn Blackwood had 13 and 10 each from Hester and Megan Munce.
Fourteen ties and four lead changes defined the first set as neither team really took control of the set. Early on, the Rebels looked to be in control, only to see the Horned frogs battle back to tie the game. Trailing 13-11, a Munce kill propelled the Frogs on a 3-0 run that gave the Frogs its second lead of the set. Tough serving by Hampton helped the rally as the Frog blocking came alive. Edwards and Lauren Otto teamed to stuff the Rebels twice to give the Frogs a 14-13 lead.
The back-and-forth affair worked its way to a 20-all tie and eventually turned into a 23-21 UNLV lead. A kill from Otto pulled the Frogs within one and a solo block from Edwards tied the set at 23.
Facing set point, Otto came up huge on the outside with a blast and Christy Hudson gave TCU its first set point with a loud blast on the right side. The Rebels staved off the early deficit, but again Hudson came up with the answer, knocking down her sixth kill of the set and Irene Hester finished it off with her third kill of the afternoon for the 28-26 win.
The momentum didn't carry over for the Frogs as the Rebels came alive in the second set. An outstanding defensive effort for UNLV produced 24 digs and five blocks as they even the set at a game apiece. The Frogs matched the Rebels dig-for-dig, but fell victim to 10 hitting errors as UNLV took a 25-15 set two victory.
Out of the intermission, the Frogs were on a mission as they dominated the third set from the word go. An ace from Hester propelled the Frogs to a 5-1 lead as kills from Hampton and Otto got the Frogs off on the right foot.
The lead continued to grow as Otto dropped in an ace and Hudson and Hester fired off kills on the outside. The Frogs took a commanding 17-8 lead on back-to-back blocks from Kirk and Hampton on the outside. A solo denial in the middle by Edwards made it a 20-9 lead. Hester locked up the 25-13 set three win with her fourth kill of the set to give the Frogs the 2-1 match lead.
The Rebels put up a fight in the fourth set, but it wasn't enough as the Frogs dropped in 16 kills, tallied 16 digs and racked up four blocks to earn the 25-22 victory.
Despite taking the early lead, UNLV didn't have an answer from Otto and Hudson in the front row. Trailing 13-11, the Frogs got the match evened up on two straight kills from Otto. The set worked its way to an 18-17 UNLV lead, but a solo block in the middle by Hampton tied the game and the Frogs never looked back.
Hester's tough serve helped the Frogs build a 23-20 lead. Otto dropped in three kills along the way. Hester gave the Frogs match point and a Sara Nehf hitting error ended the match.
The Frogs improve to 17-6 overall and 6-4 in MWC play. They hit the road for two matches next week. First up is a rematch with BYU on Thursday at 8 p.m. The match is slated to air live on BYU-TV. They will wrap up the road trip Sunday at Utah at 2 p.m.
