LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team returns to Las Vegas for its final home regular-season matches at the Cox Pavilion this season. The Rebels, who have won 10 of their 13 contests at home this year, will play host to the San Diego State Aztecs and Fresno State Bulldogs this week.
 
The Scarlet & Gray will open the short homestand with Thursday's bout with the Aztecs, with first serve scheduled for 6:00 pm. Two days later, the Rebels and Bulldogs will tussle Saturday afternoon at 2:00 pm.
 
PROMOTIONAL ITEMS OF INTEREST
Thursday, Nov. 8: Alumni Night
-There will be a tailgate in front of the Cox Pavilion with free drinks and food.
Saturday, Nov. 10: Senior Night
-Following the match, the program will recognize outgoing senior Elsa Descamps who will be playing her final home, regular-season match of her career.
 
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, both contests will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network, and, they too, will be linked to UNLVRebels.com.
 
ON THE SIDELINES: UNLV closes out the regular season on the road with trips to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains with stops in Fort Collins, Colorado, and Laramie, Wyoming, next week. The Rebels begin the trek Thursday (Nov. 15) against the Colorado State Rams, and continue it against the Wyoming Cowgirls Saturday (Nov. 17). Both matches are scheduled for 7:00 pm MT (6:00 pm PT) first serves.
 
THEY'VE MADE THE TURN & DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME: To date, UNLV (9-5 MW) sits tied for third place alongside the Wyoming Cowgirls (9-5) in the Mountain West standings with each having four contests left. The Rebels and Cowgirls trail second-place Fresno State (10-3) by 1.5 matches, while Colorado State is first overall (12-2).
 
The Scarlet & Gray's final four bouts will come against eighth-placed San Diego State as well as three of the MW's top-four teams: CSU, FS and UW.
 
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 86 serves in only 25 contests. Not only are those 86 aces the most by a Rebel in a single season, but they rank first overall in the NCAA (through Nov. 4). Additionally, her average of 0.90 aces per set is also tops in the nation.
 
Hayden's closest competitors Alcorn State's Fiapaipai Iosia and South Carolina's Aubrey Ezell sit second (67) and third (57), respectively, in service aces . The two flip spots in aces per set, as Ezell is second (0.68) and Iosia is third (0.65).
 
SCOUTING THIS WEEK'S OPPOSITION
Thursday's Opponent: San Diego State Aztecs (8-19 overall, 6-8 MW)
-The Aztecs split last week with a 3-0 victory over Utah State and a 3-1 loss to Boise State.
-The Aztecs enter the week having lost three of their last four and five of their last seven, which immediately followed a five-match win streak.
-The Aztecs began the year 1-1, but 13 straight losses followed prior to their five consecutive wins that came to an abrupt end with a 3-1 win by UNLV in San Diego.
-The Aztecs are 2-7 in both three- and four-set matches; they're 4-5 in five-set bouts.
-The Aztecs have played nine true road matches and has won three of those; they're 0-4 in neutral affairs and 5-9 in those that take place at home.
-The Aztecs lead the all-time series 27-20; however, UNLV has won two of the last three.
 
Saturday's Opponent: Fresno State Bulldogs (18-8 overall, 10-3 MW)
-The Bulldogs split last week with a 3-2 loss to Boise State and a 3-0 win over Utah State.
-The Bulldogs enter week having won six of their last eight and 10 of their last 13.
-The Bulldogs began the year 7-1, with four straight wins to start the season; however, they suffered through a stretch of four losses in five outings prior to their current 10-3 run.
-The Bulldogs own winning records in three- (6-3), four- (8-3) and five-set (4-2) matches.
-The Bulldogs have played 10 true road matches and has won seven of those; they're 3-3 in neutral affairs and 8-2 in those that take place at home.
-The Rebels lead the all-time series 10-9; however, the Bulldogs have won three straight dating back to the 2017 season.
 
SILVER STATE CUP POINTS SECURED: UNLV and UNR rekindled their annual rivalry with the newly named Silver State Cup presented by Nevada Donor Network and Laborers Union this fall. The Rebels have previously claimed the all-encompassing athletic and academic competition – formerly known as the Governor's Series – in its six years of existence, while they and the Wolf Pack finished the 2016-17 academic year deadlocked.
 
Thus far, in 2018, UNLV has amassed six of nine possible points with the season sweep in volleyball (3-1 in Las Vegas/3-2 in Reno) and women's soccer's 2-1 win (Oct. 26). UNR claimed the three points associated with women's cross country, which UNR registered a higher finish (6th to 11th) at the Mountain West Championships (Oct. 26).
 
WHAT-A-START: 26 MATCHES: Through 26 matches, UNLV's 18-8 record is the fourth best in program history, and only trails the 21-5 marks by the 2007 and 2016 squads, the 20-6 showing by the 2014 team and 1998's 19-7.
 
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.