ITHACA, N.Y. (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team, which is receiving votes in the national rankings, was dominant from start to finish early Friday in its 3-0 sweep of Niagara in the opening match of the Cornell Invitational at Newman Arena. It also marked the team's third straight win.

The Rebels (5-2) won with scores of 25-13, 25-12 and 25-13, and were led by fifth-year senior outside hitter Mariena Hayden's match highs of 10 kills and six service aces (season high).

UNLV recorded 39 kills to Niagara's 20, outhit the Purple Eagles (2-5) .418 to .012, had 12 service aces to NU's two and led in block assists 14-2.

Senior middle blocker and Endicott, New York, native Kate Brennan had nine kills with no errors and a match-high hitting percentage of .643. Freshman middle blocker Chloe Thomas also contributed seven kills, while hitting .538. Senior setter Lauryn Burt and sophomore setter Arien Fafard had 17 and 12 assists, respectively, to lead the Rebels, while Burt (season high) and junior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch each recorded eight digs.

Jaycie Roberts led Niagara with five kills.

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will continue play later today (Friday) in the Cornell Invitational against Cornell at 4 p.m. PT. The match will be livestreamed and live stats will also be available.

NEWS & NOTES:

• Hayden is No. 2 all-time at UNLV in career kills and currently has 1,536 for her collegiate career. She has also moved into a tie for No. 5 in career digs with 1,177.

• UNLV has now won 34 of its last 39 matches dating back to 2019.

• UNLV concluded its Spring 2021 season with a record-breaking campaign that saw the Rebels win the Mountain West title, going undefeated in regular-season play (12-0) and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The team finished the season 13-1 overall.

• UNLV returned nine letterwinners from last season including All-American and MW Player of the Year Mariena Hayden, and All-MW First Team performer Kate Brennan.

• Also returning to the squad are 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 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.

• For the first time in program history, the Rebels were predicted to finish atop the MW volleyball standings by the league's 11 head coaches as the preseason poll was released last month. Hayden was chosen as the Preseason Conference Player of the Year.