TUCSON, Ariz. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team (24-9) sent New Mexico State (19-10) home after a three-set sweep during the first round of the Women's National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Rebels claimed the contest behind 25-21, 25-10, 25-22 set scores at the McKale Memorial Center Friday afternoon.

The Rebels win sets up a second-round showdown and the program's first meeting in the 21st century, third in program history, against the Arizona Wildcats (17-15) Saturday at 3 p.m. (PT) (4 p.m. MT). The host Wildcats - like UNLV - swept the UTRGV Vaqueros in three sets during the Friday evening contest 26-24, 25-15, 25-16.

Fifth-year senior outside hitter Mariena Hayden led the Rebels as she put up a match-high 13 points and a match-high 10 kills. Junior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch recorded a match-high 14 digs and added eight points, senior setter Lauryn Burt earned 17 assists and two aces, followed by sophomore setter Arien Fafard with 13 assists and one ace. Senior middle blocker Jordyn Freeman led the Rebels in blocks with five, added 11 points and six kills, senior middle blocker Kate Brennan hit a match-high .517 with nine kills, one assist and 9.5 points and freshman Chloe Thomas tacked on nine kills, four digs and 11.5 points.

New Mexico State was led by Carly Aigner-Swesey's match-high 25 assists and 14 digs, Katie Birtcil's 10 kills, four digs and 11 points and Cat Kelly's seven kills, 11 digs and 8.5 points.

UNLV outhit the Aggies .288 to .115 for the match and turned in 12 total blocks to NMSU's two. The match had 11 total tie scores and only seven lead changes throughout.

The Rebels have faced the Aggies a total of seven times in program history since 1984, making the overall record now 5-2.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: The Rebels advance to the second round of NIVC to face host Arizona Wildcats at McKale Memorial Center Saturday, December 4 at 3 p.m. (PT).

MOUNTAIN WEST IN THE POSTSEASON: UNLV and Colorado State advanced to the NIVC Second Round with their respective wins over Houston Baptist (3-0) Thursday night and New Mexico State (3-0) Friday afternoon. Boise State is the lone MW squad in the NCAA Tournament and will face No. 11 BYU in Provo, Utah Friday, Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).

OTHER NEWS & NOTES:

• Dating back to 2019, UNLV has gone 53-12 in its last 65 matches. The Rebels have won 24 of 33 this season and 22 of its last 29.

• UNLV returned nine letterwinners this season including Hayden, an All-American and MW Player of the Year, Brennan, an All-MW First Team performer. 

• Also returning to the squad from last season were Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos, Lauryn Burt, Shelby Capllonch (honorable mention All-MW), Arien Fafard, Jordyn Freeman, Paola Garcia and Paris Oliveira. There are eight newcomers, which include six freshmen and a pair of international student-athletes.

• UNLV is coming off a record-breaking season during the spring that saw the Rebels go undefeated in regular-season play (12-0) and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels ended the season with a 13-1 overall record, falling to eventual national champion Kentucky.

• UNLV is led by fourth-year head coach Dawn Sullivan, who was honored following the Spring 2021 season with the MW's Coach of the Year award. 

• Hayden was named Honorable Mention All-America by the AVCA following Spring 2021 after being selected to the organization's Pacific South All-Region Team. She also was UNLV's first league Player of the Year in volleyball. 

• Hayden entered this season as the NCAA's active leader in aces (269) and aces per set (.674). Additionally, she sat 12th in total attacks (3,897), 13th in kills (1,484) and 23rd in kills per set (3.72).