Volleyball hits the road

Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999 | 9:31 a.m.

The UNLV volleyball team, fresh off its upset of then-No. 14 Colorado State at home last Saturday, will attempt to carry that momentum into a pair of Mountain West Conference road matches this weekend.

The Rebels (9-7 overall, 1-4 in the MWC) travel to Albuquerque Friday to meet New Mexico, then play at Air Force Saturday night.

New Mexico (5-17, 0-5) is mired in an eight-match losing streak while Air Force (14-5, 2-3) has won three of its past four matches going into Friday's match at home against San Diego State.

After getting off to a 7-0 start, the Rebels lost seven of their next eight matches before pulling off the upset of Colorado State on Saturday. The Rams, who suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of the Rebels, subsequently slipped one spot in the USA Today/AVCA poll, to 15th.

Angie Sylvas, who recorded a team-high 15 kills against Colorado State, continues to lead the Rebels in that category (3.54 per game). Justine Kamelamela leads UNLV in digs (2.64 per game) while Julia Goes and Robyn Shea pace the Rebels in assists with 11.64 per game.

Goes is ranked sixth in the conference in assists (10.64 per game) while Kamelamela is sixth in digs (2.64). Christel Eves is seventh in the MWC in service aces (0.38); Amber Graham is eighth in hitting percentage (.287); and Sylvas is ranked ninth in kills (3.54).

After this weekend's matches, the Rebels conclude their conference road swing with a match next Friday at San Diego State before returning to Lied Gymnasium Nov. 4 to host Utah.

* MEN'S SOCCER: After losing a pair of matches at home last weekend to ranked opponents, head coach Barry Barto's Rebels take to the road this weekend for Mountain Pacific Sports Federation matches at Cal State Northridge on Friday and UC Santa Barbara on Sunday.

The Rebels (5-8, 0-2) are winless in league play after dropping a 6-1 decision to No. 2 UCLA and a 6-2 verdict to No. 18 Cal State Fullerton at home last weekend.

UNLV returns home next Friday and hosts UC Irvine on Friday and San Diego State on Sunday.

* WOMEN'S SOCCER: Like their male counterparts, the Rebels (6-7-1, 1-3) dropped a pair of conference matches at home last week to Mountain West Conference foes BYU and Utah.

The Rebels return home on Sunday and host San Diego State in a noon contest at Johann Field.

* CROSS COUNTRY: Seven runners posted career-best times as UNLV finished second out of four teams in last weekend's UNLV Invitational, the Rebels' lone home meet of the season.

UNLV sophomore Jenni Nelson paced the Rebels with a third-place finish (18:11), trimming 10 seconds off her previous best time.

The Rebels next will compete in the Mountain West Conference Championships next Friday in Provo, Utah. UNLV has never finished better than third place in a conference championship meet.