LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Utah Valley University softball team closed its opening weekend with an 11-1 five-inning setback to UNLV on Sunday evening at UNLV's Eller Media Stadium.
 
With the loss, UVU finished going 1-4 at the 2016 Sportco Kick Off Classic with a 13-5 run-rule victory over South Dakota on Saturday and setbacks to Texas Tech, No. 14 Minnesota, Lamar and the host Rebels.
 
"It definitely wasn't the way we wanted to start our season. We learned a lot about ourselves and we've just got to figure out a way to change," head coach Nikki Palmer said. "We have good talent, now we just have to find a way to better use our positive attributes."  
 
The UVU offense struck first in the contest, as it managed to push across an early run in the top of the second. Brittney Vansway started the rally with a single and Brianna Gatlin promptly followed with a double to put runners on the corners. After Gatlin swiped second, Tiani Hensley then plated Vansway with an RBI single through the right side of the infield to give the Wolverines an early 1-0 advantage.   
 
The Mountain West Rebels (3-1) countered back with a run of their own in the last of the second to tie the score at 1-all and added nine more in the third and one more in the fourth to put the game away.
 
UVU tallied three hits in the contest to UNLV's nine. Leadoff hitter Jamie DePippo led the Rebels by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Emily Haslinger went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer.
 
Vansway and Hensley led the Wolverines by each going 1-for-2 in the ballgame while Gatlin finished with a 1-for-1 outing with a walk.
 
The Wolverines will once again return to action on the road next weekend, Feb. 19-21, with five more games at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California. There, UVU will face George Washington, No. 24 Notre Dame, Army, Bethune-Cookman and Binghamton.