Three matches. Three wins. One tournament title.
UNLV completed a perfect weekend at The Pavilion on Sunday, beating UC San Diego 3-2, 18-25, 25-18, 26-24, 23-25, 15-12, to win The Rebel Challenge. The Rebels improved to 4-7 and extended their winning streak to three matches after opening the tournament with victories over Southeastern Louisiana and UC Irvine.
More importantly, UNLV showed it could handle another fifth set and finish it. The Rebels hit .211 in the decider, held UC San Diego to .000 and closed the match with three straight points after the teams were tied 12-12.
Latos delivers when it matters
Basia Latos carried UNLV’s offense with 23 kills on 50 attacks while hitting .360. She added nine digs and two block assists.
Latos was especially important late. With UNLV ahead 13-12 in the fifth, she delivered the kill that created match point before Jaida Harris ended the afternoon with a service ace for the 15-12 win.
Harris finished with 15 kills, while Logan Lindsay added eight and Rheanna Deen-Jackson had seven. The middle attack remained efficient, with Deen-Jackson hitting .353 and Jada Ingram finishing at .308 with six kills.
Scroggins steadies the match
Kamryn Scroggins did much more than distribute the ball, finishing with 46 assists, 13 digs, five service aces, four kills and three block assists.
Her serving helped swing the third set. With UNLV trailing 21-19, Scroggins served during a 4-0 run and recorded two aces as the Rebels moved in front 23-21.
UNLV eventually took the set 26-24 after consecutive UC San Diego attack errors. Caleigh King added 18 digs and one ace as the Rebels stayed close defensively despite UC San Diego holding a 65-64 edge in digs.
Net pressure decides the fifth
UNLV’s biggest advantage came at the net, where the Rebels finished with 13 team blocks to UC San Diego’s eight.
That pressure became decisive in the fifth. UNLV opened the set with back-to-back blocks, then got another from Ingram and Latos to build a 6-3 lead.
Later, Scroggins and Ingram combined on another stop to make it 10-8. UC San Diego tied the set at 10-10 and again at 12-12, but UNLV answered with a block from Latos and Deen-Jackson, a Latos kill and Harris’ ace.
The closing sequence matched the larger story of the weekend. UNLV entered The Rebel Challenge at 1-7 and left at 4-7 with three straight wins and a tournament championship.
Scroggins was named The Rebel Challenge MVP after helping UNLV complete the 3-0 weekend. Harris and Latos joined her on the all-tournament team, giving the Rebels three selections after winning the event.
Up next
UNLV now turns toward Mountain West play after sweeping all three matches of The Rebel Challenge.
The Rebels leave the weekend with momentum and something more tangible: proof they can win tight sets, close five-set matches and finish a tournament on top.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
