LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball team opens the 2025 season at home with The Rebel Challenge at the Cox Pavilion. The Rebels will square off against Iowa on Friday, CSU Bakersfield on Saturday and Utah Tech on Sunday.

THE REBEL CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
Friday, August 29
4:00 pm   CSU Bakersfield vs. Utah Tech
6:30 pm   UNLV vs. Iowa
Saturday, August 30
4:00 pm   Utah Tech vs. Iowa
6:30 pm   UNLV vs. CSU Bakersfield
Sunday, August 31
2:00 PM   Iowa vs. CSU Bakersfield
4:30 pm   UNLV vs. Utah Tech
*all times Pacific time

WHERE TO WATCH:
The Rebels will open the season on the Mountain West Network in their matches against Iowa and CSU Bakersfield, the third and final match of the weekend against Utah Tech being on UNLV Athletics' official YouTube channel. Wyatt Tomchek and Drew Neverett will be on the call for the Scarlet & Gray's two matches on the MWN. The full season schedule and links for the weekend's neutral games may be found here.

WHAT'S ON THE DOCKET
The UNLV volleyball team will hit the road next week with a trip to the Santa Clara Mission Classic, where they will face California Baptist (Sept. 5) and Santa Clara (Sept. 6). The Scarlet & Gray will then head to the Oregon State hosted Asics Invitational with a trio of matches against UC Irvine (Sept. 11), Montana State (Sept. 12) and Oregon State (Sept. 13).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
>Iowa: Coming off of a 10-22 record during the 2024 season in the competitive Big Ten conference, the Hawkeyes won four of its first five matches to kick off last season. Iowa improved in several offensive categories from the 2023 season, including kills/set (12.10), total kills (1,440), assists/set (11.03) and service aces (178). Defensively, Iowa allowed fewer kills/set (12.89) and tallied more blocks than the 2023 campaign (250.5). The Hawkeyes finished the regular season fifth in the Big Ten with 178 aces.
>CSU Bakersfield: After earning a 12-18 record last season, the Roadrunners will look to aim high in 2025 under co-interim head coaches in Felipe Nogueira and Cinthia Angus, both members of the Roadrunners' 2024 staff. Druegan Davis is the lone Roadrunner returning from the 2024 squad at the right side, recording 130 kills paired with 1.53 kills per set. Davis had a .170 hitting percentage, including a season-high .500 hitting percentage against Cal Poly (11/8).
>Utah Tech: The Trailblazers enter the 2025 season after a 15-12 season the previous year, including a 9-7 ledger in WAC action. Utah Tech returns  First Team All-WAC member outside hitter Kennedi Knudsen, who is tied with Utah Valley's Sam Blackett as the conference's top returner in kills per set at 3.99 and brings 714 career kills over her first two seasons as a Trailblazer. The lone four-year Trailblazer on the roster, libero Kaycee Bugas, has 85 career sets and 46 career matches played under her belt and has tallied 84 career digs and nine service aces. A WAC All-Freshman Team selection last season, middle blocker Lusia Langi came on strong at the end of the season making 15 starts in WAC play totaling 59 kills & 42 blocks.

2025 SCHEDULE: The UNLV volleyball program will play a total of 28 regular-season matches during the 2025 campaign, with 14 of those taking place inside the friendly confines of the Cox Pavilion. The fall slate, the third under head coach Malia Shoji, will feature 18 contests against Mountain West foes as well as 10 more versus nonconference competition.

PURCHASE TICKETS: Tickets for the 2025 volleyball season are on sale now and can be purchased online at UNLVTickets.com. Fans can also get their tickets in person at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office or by calling 702-739-FANS (3267). Season tickets are only $50 for adults, seniors (62+), faculty and staff are $40 for seniors (62+). Kids 12 and under & Nevada School Aged Students with their valid School I.D. are free and must claim a free ticket upon entry. All seating is general admission. All tickets will be delivered as mobile.