LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The UNLV volleyball team claimed the Mountain West Conference Regular-Season title for the second time in program history after winning 17 consecutive games in conference play during its 2022 MW campaign. The Rebels' performance on the court was rightfully recognized, as fifth-year head coach Dawn Sullivan was named the MW's Coach of the Year, while Isabel Martin was selected as the MW's Player of the Year and Jhenna Gabriel was named MW's Newcomer of the Year. Martin and Gabriel were placed on the All-Conference First Team alongside junior Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos. Rounding out UNLV's awardees, redshirt junior Jordyn Freeman was an Honorable Mention honoree.

Moreover, Sullivan became the first head coach to earn Coach of the Year honors twice, the previous being during the Spring 2021 campaign. Sullivan guided UNLV to an incredible 17-1 record in conference play this season, including her 100th win against San Jose State. Dawn ended the regular season with a career record of 109 wins out of 145 games. Additionally, the 17 consecutive wins in conference play beat the longest win streak in program history, the previous being the shortened Spring 2021 season (12 wins).

Statistically speaking, Sulivan's Rebels rank 12th in the NCAA for match W-L percentage with .897, sit 28th for hitting percentage (.263), 30th for kills per set (13.85) and 44th in the nation for assists per set with 12.71. The Scarlet & Gray also sit second in the conference for hitting percentage (.263), second for both assists per set (12.71) and in kills per set (13.85), they also sit third for digs with 14.42 per set.

Martin, on the other hand, becomes just the second Rebel in program history to net Player of the Year recognition, the first being Mariena Hayden (Spring '21 and Fall '21). The Germany native finished the regular season ranked 66th in the nation and second in the conference for kills per set with 3.89, she also sits 69th in the nation and second in the MW for points per set with 4.40.

The redshirt junior outside hitter was named MW Offensive Player of the Week twice this season and had 25 double-figure matches, which included a career-high 21 kills against Wichita State (Sept. 8) and a career-high 25 digs against Air Force (Oct. 8). She also notched 13 matches with .300 or better hitting efficiency, recorded at least one ace in 14 matches, including a career-high four against Utah Tech (Sept. 17). Defensively, she had 10 or more digs in 13 outings and chipped in 58.0 total blocks.

Gabriel becomes the first Rebel in program history to be selected as the Newcomer of the Year. The graduate student setter finished the regular season leading the Mountain West and ranked 38th in the NCAA in assists per set with 10.47. She also recorded 1,089 assists during the regular season.

The Honolulu native had 29 double-figure assist matches, which included a career-high 66 assists against UTRGV (Aug. 26). She also collected 11 double-doubles, the most notable being 66 assists and 14 digs against UTRGV. The setter tacked on 41 kills for the season, bringing her hitting efficiency to .228. Defensively, she had 10 or more digs in 11 outings and chipped in 33.0 total blocks.

Arretche-Ramos was elevated to the All-MW Team this season after earning a spot on the 2021 Mountain West All-Tournament team. The junior right side/outside hitter from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, earned MW Offensive Player of the Week once this season, she sits 111th in the country for kills per set (3.65), which is fourth best in the conference. She had a career-high 30 kills against UTRGV (Aug. 26), 10 or more kills in 26 matches, hit above .400 in six matches, with a career-high .500 (8-1-14) against Wyoming (Nov. 17). She also had 28.0 total blocks, with a career-high five at Air Force (Oct. 8).

Freeman posted the second-highest hitting percentage by a Rebel, on the year, hitting above .500 on eight occasions. The redshirt junior middle blocker San Diego, CA, is the current team leader for total blocks with 84 on the season. Jordyn recorded at least one solo block on nine occasions, including a season-high of three solo blocks against Utah Tech (Sept. 17). She amassed season highs in both kills (10) and total blocks (9) at Air Force (Oct. 8). She also chipped in four assists, 21 digs and 189.5 points for the Rebels.

OTHER NEWS & NOTES
- Dating back to 2019, UNLV has gone 83-15 in its last 98 matches. The Rebels have won 26 of 29 matches this season and 52 of its last 61.
- UNLV returned eight letterwinners this season. Also returning to the squad from last season were Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos, Arien Fafard, Jordyn Freeman, Chloe Thomas, Isha Knight, Keyana Cruse, Dakota Quinlan, Livvy Setla, Isabel Martin and Thea Sweder. There are eight newcomers, which include three freshmen, a trio of transfers and a pair of graduate transfers.
- UNLV is led by fifth-year head coach Dawn Sullivan, who looks to guide her squad to the postseason for the fifth straight season. 
- Junior Arien Fafard had her 1,000th career assist during the opening weekend of the Rebels' 2022 campaign at UNT. 
- The Rebels defeated No. 19 Kansas on September 10, 2022, making that the second win over a ranked team since 2016. The first being then No. 25 Washington State during the fall 2021 season at the Rebel Challenge (Sept. 4, 2021). 
- Head Coach Dawn Sullivan notched 100 wins during the match against then MW leaders San Jose State, 3-1.
- UNLV was the first MW program to clinch a spot in the MW Tournament held November 23-25 in Fort Collins, Colorado. 
- Jhenna Gabriel recorded her 1,000th assist for the season during the Fresno State match (Nov. 12).
- UNLV earned at least a share of the MW Regular Season title after sweeping Fresno State (Nov. 12).

-UNLV-