EL PASO, Texas (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team (26-9) knocked off the Arkansas Razorbacks in a three set sweep during the quarterfinals of the Women's National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The Scarlet & Gray took the lead after a nailbiter of a first set from the first serve until set point (25-23), only to keep that lead after hitting a .362 for the second set (25-22) and finished it off with an eight point lead during the final set (25-17) to solidify their spot in the NIVC semifinals.

The Rebels win sets up a semifinal showdown and the program's fourth meeting against the UTEP Miners (23-7) Thursday evening at 6 p.m. (PT) at the Memorial Gym in El Paso, Texas. The UTEP Miners secured their spot in the semifinals with a full five set contest against Weber State Tuesday evening during the quarterfinals at the Memorial Gym. The Miners caught the lead with the first set (25-23), Weber grabbed the second set (28-26), UTEP took the lead back in the third set (25-23) before battling it out and eventually giving the fourth set to Weber (36-34). The Miners took it all in the fifth set after recording a four point run that Weber couldn't recover from (15-9).

UNLV was paced defensively by junior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch as she hit her eighth double-double of the season with 10 digs and a match-high 11 kills. Sophomore setter Arien Fafard led the Rebels in assists with 21, followed by senior setter Lauryn Burt with 16 assists and nine digs, fifth-year senior outside hitter Mariena Hayden was just one kill and one dig shy of a double-double with nine each and freshman Chloe Thomas had a match-high two blocks and recorded eight points for the Rebels.

Arkansas was led by Gracie Ryan's match-high 33 assists and match-high 12 digs, Jillian Gillen's 11 kills and 11.5 points and Taylor Head's 11 kills and 12 points.

The Rebels outhit the Razorbacks .375 to .242 for the match and out blocked them seven to five, however both teams recorded four service aces each. UNLV tallied more kills than Arkansas with 49 to 39 and earned more digs than the Razorbacks with 42 to 36. The match was a nailbiter with 27 total tie scores and eight lead changes throughout.

Tuesday's match was the second contest between UNLV and Arkansas, also the second time they met at a neutral site. Arkansas took the win with a three set sweep back in 2005 at San Diego, making the overall record now 1-1 with each team getting swept in three sets by each other.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: The Rebels advance to the semifinals of the NIVC to face the UTEP Miners at the Memorial Gym in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 6 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 26 victories in 2021 mark the 10th instance that a Rebel squad has hit the 20-win mark in program's history. The Rebels are now tied with the 2014 season for the winningest season in program history with 26 total wins.

• The Rebels also went to the NIVC semifinals back in 2018, but ultimately fell short to Iowa State in four sets.

• After Tuesday's three set match, Lauryn Burt and Arien Fafard moved into a tie for first in the program's single-season record book for sets played, with each briefly sitting at 132 with Thursday's match on deck. Kate Brennan now sits in second with 131 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 fourth in the program's single season record book for total blocks (150) and fifth for assisted blocks (135).

• Brennan, Fafard, Freeman, Burt and Shelby Capllonch are now tied for fifth in the program's single season record book for matches played with 35 each, with Wednesday's match on deck.

• Mariena Hayden knocked her second place 2019 program record for single-season service aces (70) to third with 82 service aces claiming second. Hayden also moved up to fifth in total attempts for a single-season with 1,190 and is now third for kills with 487 in the program's single-season record book.

• Dating back to 2019, UNLV has gone 55-12 in its last 67 matches. The Rebels have won 26 of 35 this season and 24 of its last 31.

• 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).