Rebel volleyball goes deep

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1998 | 10:46 a.m.

Last season, the UNLV volleyball team jumped out to a 7-1 start before losing two key players to injuries. The Rebels then lost 12 straight matches and finished the season with a 9-18 mark, failing to qualify for the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.

Deitre Collins knows she can't do anything about injuries. But the third-year head coach is confident this year's team will react differently if faced with the same dilemma.

"I have noticed a huge attitude change this year -- for the better," Collins said as the Rebels prepared for their season opener, Thursday night against Iowa State in the Nanook Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.

"We're better than we were last year and the players know that. The problem with last year was we just weren't deep enough -- and that's no fault of the players. I had never experienced such a turnaround because of the loss of a player or two."

Unlike her first two seasons at UNLV, Collins will have options when the Rebels take the court in 1998.

UNLV returns nine players from last year's squad, led by 6-foot setter Meri-de Boyer, and adds four newcomers and a redshirt from last year's roster.

"We've added depth, which is something we have never had in the past," Collins said. "We have some versatility in our offense now ... and we also have maturity now."

Heading the list of newcomers is outside hitter Nora Bernson, New Mexico's Player of the Year last season at St. Pius X High in Albuquerque, who will compete for a starting role as a freshman.

Also new to the team are freshman Amber Graham, a middle blocker from Cimarron-Memorial High; outside hitter Jeanette Graves, a junior transfer from Salt Lake City Community College; and Keala Nihipali, a sophomore setter who transferred from the University of Hawaii.

Tiffany Whigham, a junior middle blocker, redshirted with the Rebels last season and is eligible to play.

Joining Boyer from last year's team are outside hitters Angie Sylvas, a junior who played seven games in 1997 before suffering a season-ending knee injury; juniors Christel Eves, Danielle Gerlach, Kendra Wilkinson and Erica Enfield; and sophomores Justine Kamelamela, Michelle Peoples and Ana Ramos.

The Rebels return to Lied Gymnasium on the UNLV campus on Friday, Sept. 11 for their home opener against Youngstown State in the UNLV Volleyball Classic.