UNLV spikers try to get on track

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2000 | 10:18 a.m.

UNLV's volleyball team prepared for its demanding Mountain West Conference season by facing four ranked opponents during the nonconference portion of its schedule.

Now that the conference season is about to begin, things don't get any easier for the winless Rebels.

UNLV (0-9) opens conference play Friday at 15th-ranked BYU and at No. 18 Utah on Saturday before returning home next week and hosting New Mexico and Air Force.

BYU is 7-3 and has never lost to UNLV in the six meetings between the schools. Utah is 8-1 this season and 6-1 against UNLV.

When this weekend's trip is over, the Rebels will have played six ranked teams in their first 11 games.

Freshman Leiana Oswald leads the Rebels with 3.41 kills per game while junior Maria Julia Goes is averaging a team-high 9.86 assists.

UNLV (2-3-1) is led by junior Jason Melendez, who has a team-leading five goals.

After hosting Cal Poly, the Rebels travel to San Diego to take on the University of San Diego Sunday afternoon.

The Rebels (5-3) defeated Boise State 2-1 last Friday and dropped a 4-1 decision to Idaho State on Sunday.

Junior Jessica Chavez and sophomore Cosette Joffs lead the Rebels with three goals each.

UNLV will be joined in the field by Eastern Washington, Gonzaga, Idaho, Portland State, Simon Fraser, Texas Tech, UCLA, Washington and Washington State.