LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – The defending Mountain West regular-season champion UNLV volleyball team will open its conference schedule with two matches at home this week. The Rebels will host San Diego State on Tuesday, Sept. 19, and San Jose State on Thursday, Sept. 21. Both matches will be played at Cox Pavilion and begin at 6:30 p.m.
PROMOTIONS: Prior to Tuesday's match, UNLV students will have the opportunity to eat for free as Taco Bell will be distributed on the Plaza outside of Cox Pavilion. Thursday is Polynesian Night with free food available for all at the pregame tailgate and $2 beers will be available inside (all promotions are while supplies last). Fans will also be encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross' Maui Relief Fund.
LAST WEEK: UNLV (8-4) went undefeated last week, winning all four of its matches at home, and capturing the Rebel Challenge title with three straight wins in its home tournament. The Rebels swept Southern Utah on Tuesday, swept Coppin State on Thursday, defeated Portland (3-1) on Friday and swept Lamar on Saturday.
ALL-TOURNAMENT: UNLV senior outside hitter Isabel Martin was named the MVP of the Rebel Challenge, while the all-tournament team also included two other Rebels (senior outside hitter Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos and junior outside hitter Madi Kelly).
UNLV RECEIVES MOUNTAIN WEST WEEKLY HONORS: UNLV volleyball senior outside hitter Isabel Martin and freshman libero Caleigh King were both recognized by the Mountain West Monday. Martin was named the league's Offensive Player of the Week, while King earned Freshman of the Week honors.
REBEL LEADERS: Senior outside hitter Isabel Martin leads the UNLV attack this season and is second in the MW averaging 4.3 kills per set and second in points with 4.8 per set. Junior middle blocker Dakota Quinlan leads the team in hitting percentage and is third in the MW at .427, while senior setter Arien Fafard is the team's assist leader and seventh in the MW with 7.4 per set. Freshman libero Caleigh King is the team's leader in service aces and is eighth in the MW at 0.4 per set. King also leads the team in digs with 3.2 per set and senior middle blocker Jordyn Freeman is the blocks leader with 0.9 per set. As a team, UNLV ranks first in the MW in service aces with 2.1 per set, second in hitting percentage (.284), third in kills with 13.5 per set and fourth in assists at 12.3 per set.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS:
San Diego State (5-6)
San Diego State has won four of its last five matches, including a 2-0 mark at the Gonzaga Tournament with sweeps at Gonzaga and vs. Eastern Washington. The Aztecs are led in kills by Madison Corf (2.9/set), assists by Sarena Gonzalez (5.9/set), digs by McKenna Douglas (3.5/set) and blocks by Elly Schraeder (0.7/set).
San Jose State (9-4)
San Jose State has also won four of its last five matches. The Spartans went 2-1 at the USF Challenge last week with wins over UTRGV (3-2) and CSUN (3-0) and a loss at San Francisco (3-1). SJSU is led in kills by Blaire Fleming (3.9/set), assists by Brooke Slusser (6.6/set), digs by Alessia Buffagni (3.8/set) and blocks by Jiana Lawson (1.4/set).
LIVE COVERAGE: Video stream and live stats links from UNLV's matches are available on the volleyball schedule page at UNLVRebels.com. Tuesday's match is the Mountain West's Tuesday Night Block Party featured match of the week.
REBEL ROSTER MAKEUP: The Rebels, who are led by first-year head coach Malia Shoji, returned 11 letterwinners from last season's team, including the 2022 MW Player of the Year and the 2023 Preseason MW Player of the Year in senior outside hitter Isabel Martin. Also returning are last season's all-conference honorees: senior outside hitter Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos and senior middle blocker Jordyn Freeman.
Martin also earned all-region honors last season and was named an honorable mention All-American.
The Rebels have also added five new players to their 2023 roster.
PRESEASON FAVORITES: UNLV was named the preseason league favorite along with Utah State in a poll voted on by the conference's head coaches.
LAST SEASON: UNLV went 26-5 overall in 2022, including a 17-1 record in Mountain West play, and made another NCAA Tournament appearance.
2023 TICKETS: Tickets for UNLV volleyball may be purchased at UNLVtickets.com or by calling 702-739-3267. Single-game tickets are $6 per adult when purchased in advance of game day, $10 on game day and free for kids in high school or younger.
