Oct. 28, 2009
LAS VEGAS -
Week Ten Release in PDF Format 
First Serve: The UNLV Rebels (5-12 overall, 4-6 Mountain West) head north up I-15 for a pair of contests in the "Beehive State" this week. The Rebels will open up with a televised contest by The Mtn. - The MountainWest Sports Network - on Thursday night at 7:00 pm MT/6:00 pm PT, against the BYU Cougars (11-10, 5-4) in Provo. The team will then head north up the interstate for a Saturday afternoon (1:00 pm MT/12:00 pm PT) contest in Salt Lake City against the Utah Utes (14-7, 7-2).
On The Sidelines: Following their two road matches, the Rebels stay on the road for a contest against their in-state rival Nevada, Reno on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7:00 pm. This will be the 18th meeting between the two schools with UNLV winning the past three and holding a 10-7 edge in the head-to-head series.
Scouting BYU: The BYU Cougars sit 11-10 overall and in fourth place in Mountain West Conference play with their 5-4 mark. The Cougars began the year 4-6 before rattling off five wins in six tries for a 9-7 record. Unfortunately, BYU has gone 2-3 in their last five to sit one match over .500. Most recently, BYU defeated Utah Valley by a 3-1 margin on Tuesday night.
Historically speaking, BYU owns a 22-6 lead in the head-to-head series dating back to 1984. Prior to 2006, the Cougars held a dramatic 20-2 edge, but have since seen UNLV rattle off four wins in the last six meetings since 2007. BYU took the first meeting of 2009 with a 3-0 sweep on Oct. 3 in Las Vegas.
Scouting Utah: The Utes enter the week with a 14-7 overall record and sit in third place in the MWC with a 7-2 mark. Utah began the year 12-5, but have since split its last four contests. The Utes had been riding a 17-0 home-court winning streak until their last hosting, which witnessed New Mexio claim a 3-1 victory. Since that loss, Utah has had it tough needing to go the distance in wins over Wyoming (Oct. 15) and BYU (Oct. 23), while being swept at Colorado State (Oct. 17).
Historically speaking, Utah owns a 27-3 lead in the head-to-head series with UNLV dating back to 1979. Two of UNLV's three wins came during the Rebels magical run to the MWC Championship and NCAA Tournament in 2007. The Rebels won the regular-season contest and then claimed the MWC crown with a 3-2 win over the Utes in the championship game. Overall, Utah has won 11 consecutive played in Salt Lake City. The Utes claimed the first meeting in 2009 with a 3-0 sweep on Oct. 1 in Las Vegas.
Rebels On The Small Screen: UNLV will make two more appearances on television this year after having its Oct. 1 match vs. Utah and Oct. 15 affair at TCU air on The Mtn. - The MountainWest Sports Network.
The Rebels' contest at BYU on Oct. 29 (7:00 pm MT/6:00 pm MT) will air on The Mtn., as well.
UNLV's fourth and final televised match will be shown via tape delay. The home affair with TCU on Saturday, Nov. 14 (1:00 pm) will be aired on Tuesday, Nov. 17 (4:00 pm) on CBS College Sports.
Rare Roofing Materials: In the history of the UNLV volleyball program only two players have etched their names in the top five of all three career blocking categories, Lauren Miramontes (2003-07) and Erin Greenwood (2006-Pres.).
Miramontes, a 2007 AVCA Honorable Mention All-America and three-time All-MWC performer, ranks first in all three categories with 426 total, 80 solos and 344 assisted blocks.
Greenwood keeps climbing the charts with each block she amasses this season and currently sits fourth in total blocks (322) and assisted blocks (265), while ranking fifth in solo (57).
