LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team suffered a rare home loss, as the Colorado State Rams claimed the Mountain West match by a 3-1 score Saturday afternoon. The Rebels had won nine straight at the Cox Pavilion before the Rams rallied from an early deficit to claim the contest by set scores of 15-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-20. With the decision, CSU extended its winning streak to five straight and improved to 16-6 on the year and 8-2 in the MW, while UNLV sits 15-7 and 7-3, respectively.
 
The Rams outhit the Rebels by 120 points (.174 to .154) with help from five more kills (49-44) and seven fewer errors (18-25) despite their attackers attempting 10 fewer swings (113-123). CSU began the bout hitting .067 – its lowest output in the match – before it's offense produced a .440 average in the second that was followed by .267 and .357 clips in the second and third. UNLV, on the other hand, had its best showing in its first-set win with a .250; however, the squad was held to .049 (third) and .212 (fourth) efficiencies the remainder of the affair.
 
The Centennial State squad dominated on the defensive side of the net with 12.0 total team blocks compared to only 5.0 from UNLV. The Rams had four solo blocks and 16 more that were of the assisted variety, while the Rebels had one and eight, respectively. Additionally, CSU held advantages in digs (50-42) and assists (44-41), but UNLV led in aces (12-9).
 
On a side note, UNLV sophomore Mariena Hayden became the program's all-time leader in aces during the second set. The native of Belle Plaine, Minnesota, entered the match three shy of tying the 116 amassed by Christel Eves' 116 during her four-year career from 1996-99. Hayden notched two aces in the first and then registered two more in the second to tie the record and, subsequently, break it. She added to more in the third to push her total to 119. She had already claimed the program's single-season record earlier in the year. To date, she has 76 aces in only 22 matches this season, and leads the nation in both aces and aces per set.
 
TURNING POINT: Neither the first nor second set featured a lead change; however, the third and fourth combined for three total. Unfortunately for UNLV, the Rams claimed both decisive lead changes in the final two frames en route to set wins. CSU took control of the third after it used a six-point run to erase a two-point deficit to stake itself to a 7-3 lead. In the fourth, the lead changed hands twice in the first five points, but nearly did so later in the stanza. The Rebels drew even at 17-all only to see the Rams counter with a 4-0 run that grew to 8-3 en route to the set and match win.
 
STAT OF THE GAME: CSU misfired on eight attack attempts in the first set to produce a .067 hitting efficiency. The Rams corralled their errors the rest of the match with three in both the second and third, and four in the fourth. The trend went the other way for UNLV, as it had four in the first, but eight apiece in the second and third, and five in the decisive fourth.
 
STAT OF THE GAME, PART TWO: Thirty of CSU's 49 kills came from the combination of Breana Runnels and Kirstie Hillyer, who had 19 and 11, respectively. The duo hit .344 for the match with nine errors in 61 attack attempts. The rest of the Rams produced a .192 average with 19 kills against nine errors in 52 swings.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: Hayden led the Rebels in both kills (16) and aces (six), and added four digs and two assisted blocks.
 
REBEL NOTES:
- UNLV is now 9-2 at home this season after Saturday's loss; it had won nine straight after it suffered a 3-1 defeat to Indiana in the season opener.
- UNLV has played 14 of its 22 matches to four sets this season to the tune of an 8-6 mark. Currently, the Rebels are in a stretch that has seen them play nine straight to four sets with five wins against four losses.
- With her 16 kills, Hayden has now thrown down 13 or more in the last 17 contests. Hayden has reached double digits in kills in all 22 bouts.
- Elsa Descamps had five total blocks (one solo and four assisted) against CSU. With help from those assisted blocks, Descamps moved solely into third place in the program's career record book with 348. She already sits fourth in total blocks (402) and eighth in solo blocks (54).
- Descamps had 10 kills against Wyoming to notch her third match this season in double figures.
- Kate Brennan hit .467 with nine kills against two errors in 15 swings to go along with three aces and one dig.
 
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV remains home with two more matches next week, as they host New Mexico and Air Force at the Cox Pavilion Tuesday and Thursday. Both contests are slated for 6:00 pm first serves.
 
PURCHASE TICKETS:  Single-game ticket prices this season are $8 for adults, $6 for faculty/staff and seniors, although a special internet price of $5 is available for all tickets bought online at UNLVTickets.com, good up to three hours before the match. All high school, middle school and elementary students are now free under UNLV's new admission policy. To receive free admission, high school students must present valid Nevada area school I.D. at the box office on gameday to receive one (1) complimentary ticket. All other students will receive a complimentary ticket at the box office (no I.D. required). Kids not yet elementary school age will continue to receive free admission for all UNLV Olympic sports.