LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team (9-0) hits the road for the final time in Mountain West play this week to face the Fresno State Bulldogs and UNR Wolf Pack in Fresno, California, and Reno, respectively. The Rebels start their trip playing the Bulldogs at the Save Mart Center Thursday (5:00 pm) and conclude it against the Wolf Pack at the Virginia Street Gym Saturday (1:00 pm).
SILVER STATE SERIES REKINDLED
UNLV and UNR will only face each other once during the Spring 2021 season and that meeting takes place Saturday afternoon in Reno. Not only does Saturday's match count towards the Mountain West standings, but it has added significance in the Silver State Series presented by IBEW and Nevada Donor Network. Dating back to the 2012-13 academic year, the Rebels have beaten the Wolf Pack seven times and tied once (2016-17).
To date, UNR leads the all-encompassing athletic and academic competition between the state's two NCAA Division I programs by six points (10.5-4.5).
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow this week's Rebel matches at Fresno State and UNR through the Mountain West Network's video stream, live stats and social media. Links to video and statistics can be found online at UNLVRebels.com in the "schedule" section of the volleyball page as well as on the team's official social media accounts: @unlvvball (Twitter and Instagram) and @UNLVRebelVolleyball (Facebook).
CHANGING IT UP
Beginning this week and carrying over to next week, MW squads will play a more traditional schedule by playing two different opponents in a three-day period. The first seven weeks of the Spring 2021 season saw conference teams squaring off against one another in a two-match series that was played over a two- or three-day span.
ON THE SIDELINES
Following the conclusion of this weekend's trips to Fresno and Reno, the Rebels return to Las Vegas and the Cox Pavilion to close out the Spring 2021 regular season with matches against the Wyoming Cowgirls and Air Force Falcons. UNLV begins the last homestand of the year versus Wyoming on April 1 (6:30 pm) and concludes it against Air Force on April 3 (1:00 pm) – a day that has been designated as "Senior Day," with the volleyball program recognizing its six-member senior class.
RECEIVING VOTES
UNLV has been mentioned in the "receiving votes" category of the American Volleyball Coaches Association's Top 25 Poll for the past five weeks. After sweeps of San Diego State and Colorado State to start the Spring 2021 season, the Rebels made their first appearance in the Week 5 (Feb. 22) poll after they accumulated six points to share 35th place with Bowling Green.
Over the past four weeks, UNLV has steadily moved up seven spots, going from No. 33 (March 1) to No. 30 (March 8 – tied with Michigan) to No. 29 (March 15 – tied with Tennessee) to No. 28 (March 22).
The Rebels have only been ranked in the top 25 twice, with both instances occurring during the 2007 campaign (Nov. 5 and Nov. 12). In all, the Rebels received votes for 13 consecutive weeks that season, cracking the top 25 those two instances.
NCAA RPI
The NCAA released its initial RPI rankings on March 8 and UNLV came in first overall behind its perfect 7-0 record. Following the Rebels layoff because of COVID-19 issues, the Rebels have come in at No. 3 on March 15 and No. 4 on March 22. Currently, Fairfield (8-0), Sacred Heart (8-3) and Texas (20-0) sit first through third, respectively, in this week's RPI release.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
At the start of the week (March 22), UNLV ranked 100th or better in five NCAA Division I statistical categories. Moreover, the team sits first overall in the Mountain West in all five of those categories, as well.
The Rebels are first overall in winning percentage (1.000) – tied with 11 others, and rank eighth in hitting percentage (.304), ninth in kills per set (14.58), 11th in aces per set (2.00) and 17th in assists per set (13.24).
Additionally, the team sits just outside the top 100 in two more categories, placing 113th in both blocks per set (2.09) and opponent hitting percentage (.183).
INDIVIDUALLY SPEAKING
At the start of the week (March 22), UNLV outside hitter
Mariena Hayden ranked in the top 100 of five NCAA Division I statistical categories. Hayden sits first in aces per set (0.94) as well as sixth in points per set (5.47), seventh in triple doubles (1), ninth in services aces (31) and 90th in hitting percentage (.343).
Rebel middle blockers
Kate Brennan and
Macy Smith are also ranked in this week's release. Brennan is 56th in hitting percentage (.368), while Smith is 27th in that category (.407) and 78th in blocks per set (1.15).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
>Fresno State: The Bulldogs enter the week sporting a 6-5 overall/MW record and are tied with Colorado State for fourth in the conference standings … The Bulldogs began the Spring 2021 season with four wins in their first five matches; however, the team has gone 2-3 in its last five … The Bulldogs were picked to finish sixth in the MW Coaches Preseason Poll … The Bulldogs returned 12 letterwinners this season, including four starters and their libero …The Bulldogs went 14-16 in 2019 and finished tied for sixth in the conference with a 7-11 mark.
>UNR: The Wolf Pack enter the week sporting a 3-9 overall/MW record and sit solely in 11th in the conference standings … The Wolf Pack began the year losing its first three before winning three of its next four; however, the team has gone 0-4 recently … The Wolf Pack had its match at Wyoming on March 20 canceled due to COVID-19 issues and looks to resume play Thursday at Utah State before hosting UNLV Saturday … The Wolf Pack was picked to finish seventh in the MW Coaches Preseason Poll … The Wolf Pack returned seven letterwinners this season, including six starters … The Wolf Pack went 17-13 in 2019 and finished tied for sixth in the conference with a 7-11 mark.
