SAN JOSE, Calif. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team extended its winning streak to five matches after it defeated the San Jose State Spartans in three sets Thursday at Spartan Gym. The Rebels, who won the Mountain West affair behind set scores of 25-18, 25-14, 25-17, were paced by Mariena Hayden's seventh consecutive double-double off a combination of 15 kills and 13 digs, and four aces.
 
With the win, the Scarlet & Gray improved to 5-2 in conference play and, more importantly, drew its overall record to .500 at 9-9. The Spartans, on the other hand, are now 1-6 in the MW and 6-12 on the year. Additionally, the victory was the third straight and 10th in the last 11 meetings for UNLV in the head-to-head series.
 
The Rebels outhit the Spartans by 265 points (.314 to .049), which was the largest margin in a victory by the former this season. Delving deeper, UNLV hit .424 in the first set, .294 in the second and .229 in the third, while SJSU was held to a .135 or worse in each frame, including a paltry -.029 in the third. UNLV registered 13 more kills (41-28) with 14 fewer errors (9-23) in one fewer attack attempts (102-103).
 
The Rebel trio of Kate Brennan, Alison French and Macy Smith combined to hit .482 with 14 kills against no errors in 28 swings. Brennan led the group with six kills, while French and Smith had four apiece. Additionally, Shelby Capllonch added seven kills to go along with 13 digs.
 
Antonette Rolda and Lauryn Burt guided the Rebel offense with a total of 34 assists, with each dishing out 17. The former also chipped in seven digs and two aces, while the latter had two and one, respectively.
 
REBEL NOTES:
- The match featured only 11 ties and one lead change with eight of the former occurring in the first set and the only lead change taking place in the second.
- UNLV upped its overall lead in the head-to-head series to four matches, with the series sitting 11-7 in its favor.
- UNLV improved to 2-1 in three-set matches this season, with both victories occurring in a span of three matches.
- UNLV has now won twice this season after initially falling behind 2-0. The Rebels rallied from a 2-0 deficit against Portland on Aug. 31.
- Hayden had four aces in the match to bump her career tally to 190; thus, upping her UNLV and Mountain West record number.
- Hayden's 13 digs moved her within 10 of tying Kela Lau Hee (2007-10) for ninth overall in the program's career record book with 878. To date, Hayden has 868 digs.
 
UP NEXT: UNLV stays on the road to travel to Reno to face intrastate rival UNR at the Virginia Street Gym Saturday afternoon at 1:00 pm. The match signals the start of the 2019-20 edition of the Silver State Series presented by IBEW Local 401 and Nevada Donor Network. The Scarlet & Gray has won six of the previous installments and tied the Wolf Pack once in the all-encompassing athletic and academic competition between the state's two NCAA Division I programs.
 
REBELS BACK HOME: UNLV returns to Las Vegas and the Cox Pavilion for a four-match homestand that will span the next two weeks. The Rebels will host New Mexico and Air Force next Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, with first serve slated for 6:30 pm in both contests. The following week, Fresno State and San Diego State will come to town on Oct. 31 and Nov. 2.
 
-UNLV-