LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team defeated Air Force 3-1 on Thursday night at the Cox Pavilion in its Mountain West home opener.

The 25-21, 25-27, 25-20, 25-18 victory marked the Rebels' second straight and ninth in their last 10 matches.

UNLV (11-3, 2-1) was led by fifth-year senior outside hitter Mariena Hayden and senior outside hitter Milica Tasic. Hayden, who was recognized in a pregame ceremony as the new all-time career kills leader at UNLV, recorded a match-high 16 with a hitting percentage of .364, while Tasic had a season-high 15 kills with a .407 hitting percentage. 

Hayden added a match- and season-high six service aces and also contributed a team-high nine digs. Senior middle blocker Kate Brennan hit a match-high .583 with eight kills and just one error, while sophomore setter Arien Fafard recorded a match- and season-high 35 assists.

Air Force (4-9, 1-2) was led by Joi Harvey's 13 kills, hitting .522. Caroline Reinkensmeyer had 20 assists, while Murphy Riggs recorded nine digs. 

UNLV had a total of 58 kills to Air Force's 50, but the Falcons recorded a higher hitting percentage (.316 to .288). UNLV also led in assists (54-45), aces (10-2) and digs (39-28).

NEXT FOR THE REBELS: UNLV will remain home this weekend at Cox Pavilion to host New Mexico (12-2, 3-0) on Saturday, October 2 at 1 p.m. It will be Girl Scout/Scout Day and a special ceremony unveiling the Rebels' Mountain West Championship banner will be held before the match begins.

TICKETS: Admission is free for all kids in high school and younger, and tickets for adults are just $6 when purchased online in advance at UNLVtickets.com.

NEWS & NOTES:

• UNLV has now won 40 of its last 46 matches dating back to 2019.

• Hayden is No. 1 all-time at UNLV in career service aces (299; 183 ahead of second place) and kills (1,631). She is No. 4 in career digs with 1,233.

• 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 in August. Hayden was chosen as the Preseason Conference Player of the Year.