Sept. 2, 2006

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. - Junior outside hitter Maria Aladjova posted match highs of 16 kills and 25 digs to lead UNLV to a 30-22, 33-31, 30-21 sweep of UC Davis in each team's first Day 2 match of the Baden Cougar Classic women's volleyball tournament at Washington State's Bohler Gym Saturday. Aladjova also sparked a huge Rebel comeback in the second game, carrying her team from a 29-26 game-point deficit to the 33-31 win.

The Aggies drop to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the tournament. They will face the host Cougars at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Sophomore Chantal Paschetta led UC Davis with 15 kills and 20 digs, while freshman libero Avreeta Singh picked up 19 digs. Senior Rachel Keener and junior Katelyn Astruc each had four blocks along the Aggie net.

Aladjova had eight of her kills in the Rebels' Game 1 victory, helping UNLV ride out an early 17-10 advantage. Her offense contributed heavily in the Game 2 comeback. UC Davis led for much of the frame, taking a 28-26 lead on Nicole Read's kill then moving into a 29-26 game point on a UNLV attack error. Aladjova hit back-to-back kills during a 3-0 run to tie the game at 29-29, then Aggie freshman Britt Erickson put her team back in the driver's seat with a kill to create a 30-29 game point. Aladjova tied the game at 30-30 before Lumsden error gave UC Davis yet another game point at 31-30. The Rebels finished with three straight points, getting both a kill and block assist from freshman Jessica Walters.

UNLV led for almost the entirety of the third game, opening up to an 18-11 lead as Walters served up three straight points. UC Davis approached to within a five-point deficit when a block by Astruc and senior Katie Wilson cut the advantage to 20-15. Three Aggie attack errors allowed the Rebels to stretch their edge back to 27-17, and junior middle blocker Lauren Miramontes scored a side-out kill to seal the game and match.

The Rebels will take on Boise State in the tournament's 5 p.m. match, then the Aggies and Cougars square off at 7 p.m. Washington State was UC Davis' second victim of the 2005 season, having lost in five games at the Aggie Invitational almost one year ago.

UNLV (kills-aces-blocks) - Melody Nua 2-0-2, Maria Aladjova 16-1-0, Lauren Miramontes 7-0-4, Jennifer Johnson 6-0-0, Jessica Walters 11-0-3, Erin Greenwood 6-0-3, Brittani Lumsden 10-1-0, Camille Cunningham 0-0-0, Kristin Koochi 0-0-0, Jada Walker 0-0-0, Samantha Noland 0-0-0. Totals 58-2-7.0. Assists - Melody Nua 43. Digs leader - Maria Aladjova 25.

UC Davis (kills-aces-blocks) - Katelyn Astruc 3-1-4, Kelly Patterson 2-0-1, Britt Erickson 6-2-0, Chantal Paschetta 15-0-1, Rachel Keener 6-0-4, Nicole Read 6-0-0, Michelle Nelson 0-0-0, Jenny Kennedy 0-0-0, Avreeta Singh 0-1-0, Tori Hooper 0-0-0, Katie Wilson 0-0-2, Jenny Pierce 1-0-1. Totals 39-4-7.0. Assists - Katelyn Astruc 32. Digs leaders - Chantal Paschetta 20, Avreeta Singh 19.