TUCSON, Ariz. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team (25-9) rallied in the fifth set to defeat the Arizona Wildcats in the second round of the Women's National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Rebels were led by double-doubles from Lauryn Burt and Shelby Capllonch in the contest claimed behind 25-22, 25-20, 17-25, 19-25, 15-9 set scores at the McKale Memorial Center.

The Rebels win sets up a third-round showdown and the program's second meeting against the Arkansas Razorbacks (19-10) Tuesday at 4 p.m. (PT) at the Memorial Gym in El Paso, Texas. The Razorbacks had a BYE during the first round and swept the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks in three sets during the round two contest on Saturday evening 25-18, 25-17, 25-18.

The Scarlet & Gray were paced defensively by junior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch as she hit her seventh double-double of the season with a season-high 24 digs and 11 kills. Senior setter Lauryn Burt recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 22 assists and 11 digs, fifth-year senior outside hitter Mariena Hayden earned 17 kills and 19 points, sophomore setter Arien Fafard was just one dig short of a double-double with 18 assists and nine digs and freshman middle blocker Chloe Thomas recorded a career-high nine kills and 10 points.

Arizona was led by Jaelyn Hodge's match-high 23 kills, 12 digs and 23.5 points, Emery Herman's match-high 49 assists and 15 digs and Sofia Maldonado Diaz's 11 kills and 12.5 points.

The Rebels outhit the Wildcats .160 to .144 for the match, but both teams recorded 11 blocks each. Arizona had 63 total kills to UNLV's 51 and the Wildcats also recorded 83 digs to UNLV's 80. The match had 17 total tie scores and only six lead changes throughout. Arizona lead during the third and fourth set (17-25, 19-25), but ultimately fell during the fifth set.

Saturday's match was the first meeting between UNLV and Arizona in the 21st century. The two met on three occasions prior; 1978 (0-2), 1985 (0-3) and 1997 (0-3). Arizona currently still leads the overall record, now 1-3.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: The Rebels advance to the third round of NIVC to face Arkansas at the Memorial Gym at UTEP in El Paso, Texas on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. (PT).

MOUNTAIN WEST IN THE POSTSEASON: Boise State was knocked out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament after falling in a three-set sweep to No. 11-seed BYU (25-6, 25-19, 25-10) Friday night in Provo, Utah. Colorado State also fell on Friday night in the second round of the NIVC to UTEP in four sets (25-22, 12-25, 25-18, 25-19). The Rebels are the only Mountain West team still participating in postseason play.

OTHER NEWS & NOTES:

• UNLV's 25 victories in 2021 mark the ninth instance that a Rebel squad has hit the 20-win mark in program's history. The Rebels are one win away from tying the program record for season-high team wins from 2014 with 26.

• By virtue of playing in five sets Saturday, Lauryn Burt and Arien Fafard moved into a tie for fourth-place in the program's single-season record book for sets played, with each briefly sitting at 126 with Tuesday's match on deck. Kate Brennan tied for second with her own 2019 record of 128 sets played.

• Kate Brennan earned a spot at the top of the program's record book for season-high hitting efficiency with .374.

• Jordyn Freeman is now fifth in the program's single season record book for both assisted blocks (133) and total blocks (147).

• Dating back to 2019, UNLV has gone 54-12 in its last 66 matches. The Rebels have won 25 of 34 this season and 23 of its last 30.

• The Rebels will return the bulk of this year's squad next season except its four seniors Milica Tasic, Lauryn Burt, Kate Brennan and Mariena Hayden.

• 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).