LAS VEGAS - In the final match of opening weekend, the Pacific volleyball team fell in three sets 16-25, 18-25, 18-25 in the Rebel Challenge Tournament host UNLV.
 
Graduate outside hitter Alexa Edwards maintained her leadership in the final match of the tournament, collecting 12 kills to pace both teams. She added five digs, one block and an ace on the afternoon. Her efforts all weekend landed her on the 2024 Rebel Challenge Tournament All-Tournament Team.
 
Senior setter Jenna Heller's 20 assists led the team, while matching UNLV's assist leader. 
 
Five separate Tigers grabbed aces, including Edwards and Heller, which outpaced UNLV by one. Junior libero Jayhlin Swain, sophomore setter Dylan Gilkey and junior middle blocker Emily Van Groningen rounded out the remaining three. 
 
On the defensive end, Swain led both teams with 18 digs on the day, while graduate Margherita Giani, Heller, Edwards and Van Groningen were each accredited a block.
 
UNLV maintained a strong presence on both ends throughout the day, out hitting the Tigers on offense and out blocking the Tigers on defense. While Pacific grabbed leads in all three sets, the Rebels wrestled away a strong second set to carry the momentum into the third. The push back from UNLV proved difficult after back-to-back five set days and Pacific fell 3-0.
 
Through opening weekend, Edwards ranks seventh in the West Coast Conference in kills (46), while Heller sits at fifth in assists (99). Swain ranks in the top-three in digs with 51 through three matches. 
 
The Tigers return to action next weekend, traveling to the College of Charleston for a three day tournament. Pacific kicks off action against Yale on Friday, September 6 before facing USC-Upstate and host College of Charleston.

2024 Rebel Challenge All-Tournament Team
Caleigh King, UNLV
Jordyn Freeman, UNLV
Alexa Edwards, Pacific
Morgan Brandt, Iowa State
Rachel Van Gorp, Iowa State
Buse Hazan, Northwestern

2024 Rebel Challenge Tournament MVP
Dakota Quinlan, UNLV
 
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