LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team returns to Las Vegas for a pair of Mountain West matches against the Utah State Aggies and Boise State Broncos at the Cox Pavilion. The Rebels and Aggies will kick off the week's action Thursday evening at 6:30 pm, while the Broncos come to town two days later for a Saturday matinee at 2:00 pm.
UNLV (6-9 overall, 2-2 MW) enters the week riding on a two-match win streak in conference play following a successful road trip through the Golden State with victories over the San Diego State Aztecs (3-1) and Fresno State Bulldogs (3-2). More importantly, the wins drew the Rebels' mark in the MW standings to .500 with an identical 2-2 record.
USU (1-15, 1-3) and BSU (11-4, 3-1) faced the same opponents last week with both going 1-1 in home contests against the San Jose State Spartans and UNR Wolf Pack. The Aggies and Broncos had identical results with both defeating the Spartans; however, the Wolf Pack got the best of them.
These are the first of two meetings the Scarlet & Gray have against USU and BSU with return engagements slated for early November (7th/9th) in Boise, Idaho and Logan, Utah.
TUNE IN, WATCH & LISTEN: Fans can follow this week's Mountain West matches against Utah State and Boise State by various means: live stats, live video and social media. Links to stats and live video can be found online at UNLVRebels.com in the "schedule" section of the team's volleyball page as well as on the team's official social media channels.
ON THE SIDELINES: UNLV hits the road, once again, for a trek to the northern portions of California and Nevada next week for contests at San Jose State Spartans (Oct. 17) and UNR Wolf Pack (Oct. 19).
TOP-25 OPPOSITION FACED: UNLV has played two opponents that found their way into the AVCA Top-25 Poll this season. Currently, the Rebels have faced Colorado State (14-1) and California (13-1) which sit No. 15 and 16, respectively, with a combined 27-2 record.
The squads moved into the top 25 in week three (Sept. 16) when CSU was initially ranked No. 22 and Cal at No. 24. The latter was not ranked when it faced UNLV on Sept. 7; however, the former was No. 17 on Sept. 28.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
>Utah State: The Aggies are 1-15 through six weeks of play, going 1-1 last week in Mountain West play at home with a 3-2 win against San Jose State and a 3-0 loss to UNR ... The Aggies began the year 0-14, with eight of those defeats coming by 3-0 final scores ... The Aggies, who returned four starters and seven letterwinners, were picked to finish 10th in the MW after posting a 10th-place finish with a 3-15 mark one year ago, and a 5-24 overall record.
>Boise State: The Broncos are 11-4 through six weeks of play, going 1-1 last week in Mountain West play at home with a 3-1 loss against UNR and a 3-1 win over San Jose State ... The Broncos began the year with identical 3-0 losses to Marquette and BYU, but rebounded with a 10-1 showing in their next 11, which included six- and four-match win streaks ... The Broncos, who returned four starters and eight letterwinners, were picked to finish fourth in the MW after tying for fifth with a 10-8 mark one year ago, and am 18-11 overall record.
MAR(IENA) RECORDS TO BE BROKEN: UNLV's
Mariena Hayden rewrote the program's single-season record book for aces last season with 114. Combining last year's haul with her freshman tally of 43, she began the 2019 season with 157.
With each additional ace, Hayden creeps closer and closer to the top of the Mountain West's record book for aces. Hayden surpassed TCU's Nirelle Hampton (162 aces/2005-08) two weeks ago in a match against the Wyoming Cowgirls. Currently, she sits second overall with 171; five back of San Diego State's Robyn Gregg (2000-03) and her 176.
Hayden Record Watch Current Next
-Mountain West Ace Leader 2nd/171 1st/176 - Robyn Gregg (2000-03)
-UNLV Career Kills 8th/992 7th/1,011 - Madeline Westman (2010-13)
-UNLV Career Attack Attempts 6th/2,741 5th/2,929 - Patricia Assuncao (2000-03)
-UNLV Career Digs ~/833 10th/839 - Maria Aladjova (2004-07)
HAYDEN HIGHLIGHTS: UNLV's
Mariena Hayden has seen action in 10 of the team's 15 matches this season, missing five matches due to precautionary measures. Hayden primarily played the back row up until week four's Rebel Challenge, which saw her amass one double-double, while recording double-figures in kills in each match versus Arizona State and Kansas.
Since her return to playing the full rotation, she has 93 kills and is averaging 3.44 kps in the past six matches against Arizona State, Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado State, San Diego State and Fresno State. This stretch includes five double-doubles with six double-digit kill and five double-digit dig matches. Besides the kill total, she has compiled 81 digs, 14.0 blocks (three solo/11 assisted), 13 aces and 11 assists.
In her last outing, she tied a career high in kills with 26 against Fresno State (Oct. 5).
PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets for the 2019 volleyball season are on sale now and can be purchased online at UNLVTickets.com. Fans can also get their tickets in person at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office or by call 702-739-FANS (3267). Season tickets are only $50 for adults and $40 for seniors (62+), faculty and staff, and active alumni.
Tickets for individual matches are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors, faculty and staff. Additionally, fans that purchase tickets online up to 11:59 pm prior to match day can get them for an advanced single-match price of $5. Tickets for groups of 15 or more are only $4 apiece.
All high school, middle school and elementary students are free under UNLV's admission policy. To receive free admission, high school students must present a valid Nevada area school I.D. at the box office on match day to receive one (1) complimentary ticket. All other students will receive one complimentary ticket at the box office (no I.D. required). Kids not yet elementary age will continue to receive free admission for all UNLV Olympic sports.
