REBELS FACE FIRST ROAD TRIP
UNLV meets unfamiliar foes at McNeese State tournament
UNLV softball takes its first road trip of the season as it competes in the Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational II at the campus of McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., starting Friday.
The Rebels (7-2) take on Sam Houston, Manhattan, Memphis and host McNeese State in five games in three days. UNLV and Sam Houston take the diamond Friday at 2:45 p.m. PT.
“All the teams we’re playing,” UNLV head coach Kristie Fox said, “I think, are going to be very similar to the teams we played last weekend. They’re scrappy, they’re going to put the ball in play and we’ve got to be prepared to play defense.
“It’s going to be interesting playing on turf for the first time. I just look forward to seeing how they handle the moments on the road, the time change, and being in a hotel. It’s going to be exciting for us. It’s (assistant) Coach Emily’s (Vincent) hometown, so I know we’ll get a lot of hospitality.”
Broadcast info
All games of the Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational II at McNeese State will stream live (subscription) at McNeeseSports.com/watch.
UNLV vs. the field
- All-time vs. Manhattan: First meeting
- All-time vs. McNeese State: 0-1
- Streak: Lost 1.
- First meeting: Feb. 14, 1997. McNeese won 9-2.
- All-time vs. Memphis: 1-0
- Streak: Won 1.
- First meeting: Feb. 16, 2012. UNLV won 1-0.
- All-time vs. Sam Houston: First meeting.
Early favorites
UNLV is predicted to top the Mountain West, according to preseason polling of the conference’s coaches. The Rebels tied with San Diego State in overall predicted-order-of-finish points, but carried the most first-place votes with five. UNLV’s last conference championship came in 1995 as a member of the Big West. That year, the Rebels reached the Women’s College World Series.
Bull market
UNLV returns 12 letterwinners, including eight starters and All-Mountain West selections Denise Armendariz (DP), Jenny Bressler (P) and Mia Trejo (1B), from last season when the Rebels finished second in the Mountain West standings. The Rebels added six freshmen and three transfers in the offseason.
Milestone win
UNLV head coach Kristie Fox reached 250 career victories in the Rebels’ season-opening win versus BYU. Fox has 122 victories in five seasons at UNLV following 134 wins in five years at the helm at UT-Arlington.
Player of the week
Sophomore CF Janyssa Martin was named the season’s first Mountain West Conference Player of the Week (Feb. 15). Martin accounted for the game-winning run in three of UNLV’s first five wins.