The UNLV volleyball team closed out it nonconference portion of its schedule last weekend with a perfect 3-0 showing in St. Louis at the Billiken Invitational. Those three wins pushed the Rebels' overall record to 9-3 with the start of the 18-match Mountain West season beginning this week. The Scarlet & Gray will open league action at home Thursday night against the Boise State Broncos (6:00 pm) before it heads to Logan, Utah, for a tilt with the Utah State Aggies Saturday afternoon (1:00 pm MT/12:00 pm PT).

Thursday is being billed as "Club Night," with all local club volleyball teams invited to attend the match.
 
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING: UNLV has faced this week's opponents a total of a total of 29 times, with a 5-12 mark against Boise State and an 8-4 record vs. Utah State. The Rebels and Broncos first met in 1984, while the initial contest with the Aggies came in 1978.
 
TUNE IN, WATCH & LISTEN: Live stats for all 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.
 
WHAT-A-START: UNLV's 9-3 overall record through 12 matches is tied for the third-best start in program history with the 1998, 2006 and 2014 squads. Occupying the top two spots are the pair of NCAA Tournament participants from 2016 and 2007 who were 11-1 and 10-2, respectively, through their first dozen contests.
 
ON THE SIDELINES: Following Saturday's road match at Utah State, UNLV will remain away from Las Vegas and the Cox Pavilion for two more contests. The Rebels will travel to Albuquerque, N.M., and Colorado Springs, Colorado, for Mountain West bouts against the New Mexico Lobos on Sept. 26 (7:00 pm MT/6:00 pm PT) and Air Force Falcons on Sept. 28 (6:30 pm MT/5:30 pm PT), respectively.
 
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 52 serves in only 12 contests. Not only are those 52 aces the most by a Rebel in a single season, but they rank first overall in the NCAA (through Sept. 16). Additionally, her average of 1.16 aces per set are also tops in the nation.

REBELS SWEEP MW WEEKLY AWARDS: Fresh off their all-tournament team performances at the Billiken Invitational this past weekend in St. Louis, UNLV volleyball's Mariena Hayden and Elsa Descamps were named the Mountain West's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively. The duo helped lead the Rebels to a 3-0 mark and a tournament title with wins over Murray State, UMKC and Saint Louis.
 
Hayden, who was the MW's Offensive Player of the Week last week, led the Rebels in kills (50) and aces (eight), and added 30 digs, five total blocks (three solo) and two assists. She had a pair of double-doubles vs. Murray State and UMKC, and had no fewer than 15 kills, seven digs and two aces in each match.

Descamps also posted a pair double-doubles, and paced the team in assisted blocks (six), total blocks (eight) and blocks per set (0.67).
 
SCOUTING THIS WEEK'S OPPOSITION
Thursday's Opponent: Boise State Broncos (8-3)
-Enters the week coming off a 2-1 showing at a home tournament with 3-0 wins over Cal State Northridge and Sacramento State and a 3-2 loss to Portland.
-After winning six straight to start the year, the Broncos have lost three of their last five.
-The Broncos are a combined 6-1 in neutral and road matches this season.
-The Broncos lead the all-time series 12-5 and have won three straight.
 
Saturday's Opponent: Utah State Aggies (2-9)
-Enters the week coming off a 3-0 loss at home to Weber State; their only match last week.
-The Aggies' wins have come by identical 3-2 scores over Cal State Northridge and Milwaukee; however, they are 2-3 in five-set matches this season.
-The Aggies have been swept five times, lost 3-1 once and 3-2 three times.
-The Aggies are a combined 2-5 in neutral and road matches this season; face New Mexico Thursday in Albuquerque, N.M.
-The Rebels lead the all-time series 8-4; however, the Aggies have won two straight.

PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 season. Season tickets are just $50 for adults, $40 for UNLV faculty/staff and seniors. 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.