The Nevada Women’s Volleyball team traveled to Cheney, Wash., where they competed in the Eastern Washington University Invitational from Sept. 1 to 2. Starting the tournament with an overall record of 1-2, the team would finish with the same in the tournament.
The Wolf Pack started the opening game off with their match against the University of the Pacific Tigers. Nevada had an overall match total of 32 kills, three aces, five blocks, and a hitting percentage of .139 against Pacific. Nevada fell short at the end of each set, losing 21-25, 22-25 and 23-25, respectively, having a match overall of 0-3 against the Tigers.
The match was led by Sia Liilii, outside hitter, with 13 kills, Jordan Scwhartz, middle blocker, with five blocks, Bella Snyder, middle blocker, with two aces, Tehya Maeva, setter, with 20 assists and Hikialani Kaohelaulii, libero, with 14 digs.
The Wolf Pack took on hosts Eastern Washington University in their second match of the tournament, sweeping the Swoops 3-0. Nevada started off winning the first set with a six-point lead, followed up by a two-point lead in set two and finally another two-point lead in set three.
Nevada came above EWU in most statistical categories. With an overall match total of 42 kills, eight aces, three blocks and an overall hitting percentage of .252 over Eastern Washington. With less attempts, but more success, the Wolf Pack powered through, coming out on top in each set against the Swoops.
The leaders of the pack for the second match include Schwartz with two blocks, Jaclyn Sanchez, setter, with 29 assists and Kaohelaulii with 16 digs. Nicanora Clarke, outside hitter, rose to the top with 14 kills and two aces, and Liilii also helped significantly with 13 kills and 11 digs.
Nevada then moved on to play in their last match of the Eastern Washington tournament against the Seattle University Redhawks.
The Wolf Pack started off strong against the Redhawks, going 25-22 and 25-21 in the first two sets and taking a 2-0 set lead.
As set three began, Nevada started off weaker than the first two sets. Nevada was close to closing the seven point lead Seattle University had on them, but fell three points short, ending the set three with a 23-25 loss.
Nevada went through ups and downs in set four, starting off with an early four-point lead, with Seattle then tying it back up 9-9. The two teams went back to back leading over one another, and got back to another tie later in the set. After a timeout called by the Redhawks, the two teams were tied 22-22.
After the timeout, the Pack came out slow and wound up losing the set by two points to Seattle, 23-25.
Going into the last set of the match, Seattle started with a 4-0 point lead against Nevada. The Wolf Pack tried closing the gap all the way until the end, but fell short by three points with a final score of 12-15 against SeattleU.
Nevada had an overall solid game statistically, with 61 kills, seven aces, 11 blocks and a hitting percentage of .232 against SeattleU.
Game leaders for the final game of the tournament include Clarke with 19 kills and 10 digs, as well as Lillii with three aces, 17 kills and 13 digs, Hannah Platt, outside hitter, with nine blocks, Kaohelaulii with 25 digs and Sanchez with 51 assists.
Platt and Kaohelaulii ended the tournament being named to the Eastern Washington Invitational All-Tournament Team.
After the weekend tournament, the Wolf Pack stands at a record of 2-4 overall. Nevada now heads back home to get ready for another week of volleyball, where they will play at University of California, Riverside from September 8 to 9.
Lexi Trent can be reached via email at draridon@sagebrush.unr.edu or via twitter @LexiTrentUNRJ
