LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team hits the road, once again, for three matches this week at the UCI/adidas Invitational in Southern California. The Rebels will square off against the host UC Irvine Anteaters as well as the California Golden Bears and North Carolina Tar Heels in the two-day event (Sept. 7-8) at the Bren Events Center.
UCI/adidas INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, September 6
11:00 am UNLV vs. UC Irvine
3:00 pm North Carolina vs. California
7:00 pm North Carolina vs. UC Irvine
Saturday, September 7
10:00 am UNLV vs. California
4:00 pm UNLV vs. North Carolina
7:00 pm California vs. UC Irvine
TUNE IN, WATCH & LISTEN: Live stats for all three of UNLV's matches at the UCI/adidas Invitational can be found online at UNLVRebels.com in the "schedule" section of the volleyball page. Additionally, all three Rebel matches will be streamed live and free of charge via BigWest.TV, and, they too, will be linked on the schedule page.
ON THE SIDELINES: The UNLV volleyball team returns to Las Vegas for five straight matches at the Cox Pavilion next week, beginning with the aptly named UNLV Invitational on Sept. 13-14 and the Rebel Challenge the following weekend (Sept. 19-21).
The Scarlet & Gray will welcome the Idaho Vandals, Pacific Tigers and Texas Tech Red Raiders to the Las Vegas Valley for the two-day UNLV Invitational, with each squad playing two contests Friday and one apiece Saturday.
The Rebel Challenge will span three days; however, each team will only play twice, with UNLV slated for a match on Sept. 19 vs. Arizona State and another two days later against Kansas on Sept. 21. ASU and KU will square off on Sept. 20 in a neutral affair at the Cox Pavilion.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
>UC Irvine: The Anteaters are winless after the first week of play, going 0-3 at the Oregon Classic with losses to Oregon State (3-0), No. 11 Oregon (3-0) and Boston College (3-0) ... The Anteaters were picked to finish fourth in the Big West this season after third-place showing (10-6 BW, 16-13 overall) one year ago ... The Anteaters returned eight letterwinners from last year's squad, including All-Big West honorees Loryn Carter (First Team) and Abby Marjama (Freshman of the Year).
>California: The Golden Bears are undefeated after the first week of play, going 3-0 at Colorado State's Ram Volleyball Classic with wins over Oklahoma (3-0), CSU (3-1) and Chicago State (3-1) ... The Golden Bears were picked to finish eighth in the Pac-12 after a 10th-place showing (7-13 P12, 15-16 overall) one year ago ... The Golden Bears returned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention performers Mima Mirkovic, Preslie Anderson and Lauren Forte from last year's squad.
>North Carolina: The Tar Heels are winless after the first week of play, going 0-2 at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge against No. 3 Minnesota (3-0) and No. 5 Wisconsin (3-0) in Chapel Hill ... The Tar Heels were picked to finish fifth in the ACC this season after tying for 14th (4-14 ACC, 8-19 overall) one year ago ... The Tar Heels returned four starters and their libero from last year's squad.
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 three hours prior to first serve 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.
