WOLF PACK SPORTS

TAILGATE PARTY

The University of Nevada athletics department is hosting pregame tailgates at Legacy Hall that are open to the public for each of the final three home football games, beginning Saturday with Homecoming against Wyoming.

The “Let’s Talk Football” Tailgates begin two hours before kickoff at Legacy Hall, the main athletics building located across from the main gates at the southeast entrance to Mackay Stadium. The tailgates end 15 minutes before kickoff.

Each tailgate features three Wolf Pack speakers, including athletics director Doug Knuth. Fans will also get a primer on that day’s opponent from Doug Lichtenberger of the football staff, and will also hear from that game’s honorary captain, a former Wolf Pack great.

Cost is just $20 for adults, which includes a meal, dessert, unlimited soda and water, and one adult beverage. This week’s menu includes hand-carved prime rib with au jus and horseradish sauce, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, green beans with apple pecan and blue salad. Dessert options include double chocolate brownies and assorted cookies. Cost for children is just $10.

This week’s Homecoming game against Wyoming kicks off at 7:30 p.m., with the pregame tailgate at Legacy Hall starting at 5:30 p.m. RSVP to Judi Cail at (775) 682-2901.

VOLLEYBALL

The Nevada Wolf Pack volleyball team (14-6, 5-3) will head to Utah State (8-11, 3-5) to play the Aggies Saturday.

The match is set for 12 p.m. PT at the Wayne Estes Center. The Wolf Pack will be looking for some revenge after the Aggies claimed a close five set match at the Virginia Street Gym to start conference play. Nevada has continued to play well since, however, with one of the top two offensive players in the Mountain West in senior Madison Morell and one of the best hitting percentages as a team in the conference. Nevada hasn’t lost back-to-back matches since the first two of the season.

“We know this is going to be a challenging match,” said head coach Lee Nelson, in his second season with the team. “They already beat us this season, and just took a very good UNLV team to five sets, so we need to be prepared to compete.”

The match on Saturday will be the first time the Pack has seen the same opponent for the second time this season.

“I don’t expect there will be any big surprises,” Nelson said. “Instead, it’s going to be about who wants it more.”

Statistically, the Wolf Pack hits better and averages more aces than the Aggies, but Utah State tends to play better defense. At the net, the two teams block at an identical 2.1 blocks per set, shaping up for a tight and hard fought match.