(Las Vegas - Aug. 31, 2025) - The Trailblazers wrapped up action at The Rebel Challenge on Sunday night sweeping host UNLV at Cox Pavilion.
Utah Tech (2-1) took sets, 25-23, 27-25, 25-14 over UNLV (1-2) as the Trailblazers outhit the Rebels, .267 to .137 in the contest.
Led for a third straight match by WAC Preseason Player of the Year
Kennedi Knudsen, the senior outside hitter totaled 14 kills while adding eight digs.
Taylor Snow and
Nana Asiata added seven kills apiece while Asiata led the charge defensively tallying six blocks.
Setter
Marley Roe led the way with 19 assists while
Tehanie Waters added 14 assists.
How It Happened
The Rebels got action started in the opening set jumping out to a 15-13 lead, but the Trailblazers answered back with a 7-2 run to take a 20-17 lead after a kill by Knudsen.
A quick 4-1 run for UNLV locked up the set at 21, but four of the final six points of the set went to Trailblazers as a kill by
Sydney Reese emphatically closed out the set.
A back-and-forth second set again saw UNLV again jump ahead early, leading 15-12.
The Trailblazers responded with a 6-1 run to take back a 18-16 lead after a kill by
Emery Harrison.
On the brink of set point leading 24-21 after a Rebel service error, UNLV ripped off four straight points to set up set point for themselves.
UT had other plans notching back-to-back kills from Reese and Snow and an attack error by UNLV gave the Trailblazers a 2-0 set lead.
Looking to complete their second sweep in the last three days, the Rebels raced out to a 7-1 lead in the third set.
With UNLV continuing to lead 12-10, the Trailblazers answered back with five straight points for a three-point lead and would not look back from there going on a 10-2 run to go close out the set winning, 25-14.
Numbers To Know
- With the win over the Rebels, the Trailblazers took second in The Rebel Challenge finishing behind Iowa, who went 3-0 on the weekend.
- Asiata and Roe were named to The Rebel Challenge All-Tournament Team.
- The Trailblazers move to 1-1 all-time against UNLV.
- Utah Tech's 2-1 start to the season is its third such start in the last four seasons.
- The Trailblazers led the Rebels in kills (43-41) and blocks (8-5).
Up Next
The Trailblazers return home to host the Utah Tech Tournament next weekend getting action started Thursday night against Weber State (3-0) at 6 p.m. at Burns Arena.
