LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team returns to Las Vegas and the Cox Pavilion for a pair of home matches this week. The Rebels, who have been played three straight on the road, will return to the court Thursday and Saturday against the San Jose State Spartans and UNR Wolf Pack, respectively. Both contests are set for 6:00 pm first serves.
These two matches signal a stretch where the Rebels will play six of their next eight contests at home after six of their last seven had been played on the road. In this recent run, UNLV went 5-2 with a 4-2 mark on the road mixed with a sweep at home over Boise State.
PROMOTION ITEMS OF INTEREST
Thursday, Oct. 4: Lace Up for Pediatric Cancer & First Responders Night
-The Rebels are teaming up with Go4theGoal Foundation to help the fight against pediatric cancer. The foundation's mission is to improve the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research, and granting personal wishes.
-Fans can help support Go4theGoal by donating to UNLV dedicated page (https://donate.go4thegoal.org/team/178351) and/or purchasing gold shoelaces at Thursday's match.
Saturday, Oct. 6: Code Red & Camper Reunion Night
-A tailgate with free food and drinks will be provided to fans prior to the match.
-The first 250 fans through the Cox Pavilion doors will receive free T-shirts.
-Fans are encouraged to wear Red in UNLV's match against its rival from up north.
GOVERNOR'S SERIES OPENER
The Silver State's NCAA Division I programs rekindle their rivalry Saturday with the seventh edition of the Governor's Series presented by NV Energy and Barrick Gold. In the six previous iterations of the all-encompassing athletic and academic competition between UNLV and UNR, the Rebels have won five and tied the Wolf Pack once (2016-17).
TUNE IN, WATCH & LISTEN
Live stats for both of UNLV's matches this week can be found online at UNLVRebels.com in the "schedule" section of the volleyball page. Additionally, each contest will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network, and, they too, will be linked to UNLVRebels.com.
ON THE SIDELINES
UNLV will hit the road for a pair of matches in the Golden State next week with stops in Fresno and San Diego on Oct. 11 (Thursday: 7:00 pm) against the Fresno State Bulldogs and on Oct. 13 (Saturday: 6:00 pm) versus the San Diego State Aztecs, respectively.
SCOUTING THIS WEEK'S OPPOSITION
Thursday's Opponent: San Jose State Spartans (6-7 overall, 1-3 MW)
-Enters the week coming off a 3-0 win at home over Boise State; however, the team had lost three straight and five of their last seven prior to the victory.
-The Spartans began the year 4-2 prior to the recent seven-match run.
-The Spartans are 5-5 in matches played away from San Jose with a 1-3 mark in road contests and 4-2 record in neutral ones.
-The Spartans have played nine matches to only three sets with a 5-4 record.
-The Rebels lead the all-time series 8-7; however, the Spartans won the last meeting 3-1 on Nov. 4. 2017, following a seven-match win streak by UNLV.
Saturday's Opponent: UNR Wolf Pack (8-7 overall, 1-3 MW)
-Enters the week coming off a 3-2 win at home over Utah State; however, the team had lost five straight prior to the victory.
-The Wolf Pack began the year 7-2 prior to the recent six-match run.
-The Wolf Pack is 7-5 in matches played away from Reno with a 1-5 mark in road contests and 6-0 record in neutral ones.
-The Wolf Pack has played eight of its 15 matches to only three sets with a 4-4 record.
-The Rebels leads the all-time series 21-10; however, the Wolf Pack has won three of the last four following a 13-match win streak by UNLV.
MARIENA(CE) TO SOCIETY
One year ago,
Mariena Hayden concluded her freshman season with a total of 43 aces in 31 matches. Thus far, in 2018, she has aced 57 serves in only 16 contests. Not only are those 57 aces the most by a Rebel in a single season, but they rank first overall in the NCAA (through Sept. 30). Additionally, her average of 0.95 aces per set are also tops in the nation.
Hayden's closest competitors South Carolina's Aubrey Ezell and Alcorn State's Fiapaipai Iosia only have 44 and 41 aces, respectively. Ezell is also second in aces per set (0.88), while Iosia is third (0.80).
WHAT-A-START
UNLV's 11-3 overall record through 14 matches was tied for the second-best start in program history with the 1998, 2007 and 2014 squads. Occupying the top spot is the 2016 edition that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament following a 13-1 start.
Currently, the Rebels sit 11-5, which is the third best record through a 16-match stretch in program history, and it's tied with the 2006 and 2012 squads with the same mark. The 1998, 2007 and 2014 editions are second with a 13-3 output, while 2016 sits first overall at 15-1.
