Smith, Rebels to open NIVC at USD
Mon 12-2-2019
VERMILLION - Spirit Lake High School graduate Macy Smith and the UNLV volleyball team has been selected to play in the National Invitation Volleyball Championship for the second straight year and will play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday vs. Kansas City in Vermillion, S.D.
The Rebels have a 19-10 record, while the Roos are 17-11.
In the other first-round match, host South Dakota (27-2) plays Central Michigan (21-8) at 8 p.m. The winners play at 3 p.m. Friday.
Smith, a 6-foot junior middle blocker, is second in blocks for UNLV this season with 85. She is also averaging 1.65 kills per set while hitting .297.
She started her college career at South Dakota State before joining the Rebels in 2018.
Smith's Jackrabbits went 0-2 against the Coyotes in Summit League play. However, she had a season-high nine kills off .444 hitting (9-1-18) with three total blocks and two digs in the second match that season.
It's the second straight year that UNLV has participated in the NIVC. The Rebels advanced to the semifinals last year, losing in four sets to eventual champion Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. In all, UNLV went 3-1 in the NIVC last year, defeating UC Irvine 3-0 and Fresno State 3-2 in Las Vegas before winning 3-1 at Portland.
She is the daughter of David and Lori Smith.