LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team returned to its winning ways with a decisive, 3-0 victory over the Air Force Falcons Thursday at the Cox Pavilion. The Rebels, who won the contest by set scores of 25-16, 25-15-25-20, were energized by the return of outside hitter Mariena Hayden who led all with 10 kills and six aces, while middle blockers Kate Brennan and Elsa Descamps had eight kills apiece.
 
UNLV (16-8 overall, 7-5 MW) outhit Air Force (13-11, 3-7) by 84 points (.284 to .280) with assistance from five more kills (36-31) and one fewer error (13-14) despite attempting four fewer swings (81-85). The Rebels opened with a .393 effort in the first set with 14 kills against three errors in 28 swings, and then followed it with a .308 average in the second (12-4-26); however, they dropped to a .148 in the third (10-6-27). The Falcons, on the other hand, had their best hitting display in the third with a .300 efficiency (13-4-30), but also hit .233 (10-3-30) and .040 (8-7-25) in the first two frames.
 
The Rebels also led in aces (8-1) and digs (36-29), but trailed in assists (28-29) and total team blocks (4.0-5.0).
 
STAT OF THE GAME: Brennan and Descamps were a formidable pair at the net, as the duo combined for 16 kills and a .577 average. The former did not commit an error with her eight kills coming off of 10 swings (.800), while the latter misfired only once with eight kills in 16 attempts (.438).
 
STAT OF THE GAME, PART TWO: UNLV was plus-3 in the serving game with eight aces compared to five errors, while Air Force was a staggering minus-15. The Falcons had 16 service errors to only one ace.
 
REBEL OF THE GAME: As previously mentioned, Hayden topped all with 10 kills, and was the only player to register double figures in the bout. She also owned six of UNLV's eight aces, and added four digs and two total blocks (one solo).
 
REBEL NOTES:
- UNLV is now 10-3 at home this season after Thursday's win.
- UNLV improved to 7-1 in three-set matches this season.
- UNLV has played two straight three-set matches after its run of nine consecutive four-set affairs.
- Hayden had to sit out Tuesday's match against Colorado State due to an injury; it was the only contest that she hasn't played in her two-year career at UNLV.
- With her 10 kills, Hayden has reached double digits in kills in all 23 matches that she has played in, and has 392 on the year, which are 10 shy of tying Rebel alumna Maria Aladjova's 402 from 2006 for 10th in the program's single-season charts.
- With her six aces, Hayden has 82 on the year and 125 for her career, and both figures are program bests.
- With two assisted blocks, Descamps upped her career total to 350 to aid her third-place standing in the program's record book. She also ranks fourth in career total blocks (404) and eighth in solo blocks (54).
 
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV has six regular-season matches left and four of those are on the road, beginning with next weeks trips to face the UNR Wolf Pack and San Jose State Spartans. The Rebels will face the Wolf Pack Thursday (6:30 pm) and Spartans Saturday (2:00 pm).
 
REBELS BACK HOME: UNLV returns to Las Vegas and the Cox Pavilion Nov. 8 and 10 to close out its 2018 regular-season home schedule. The Rebels host San Diego State on Thursday, Nov. 8 (6:00 pm) and Fresno State on Saturday, Nov. 10 (2:00 pm).
 
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.