LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The UNLV volleyball will wrap up its non-conference schedule by hosting the annual Dig In The Desert at The Pavilion.
DIG IN THE DESERT SCHEDULE
Thursday, September 18
6:00 pm UC Riverside at UNLV
Friday, September 19
4:00 pm UC Riverside vs. Southern Utah
Saturday, September 20
2:00 pm Southern Utah at UNLV
*all times Pacific time
TICKETS
Use code "DIG" to get $5 tickets for the Rebel matches this week.
WHERE TO WATCH
Live stats for all three of UNLV's matches for the Dig In The Desert can be found online at UNLVRebels.com in the "schedule" section of the volleyball page. Additionally, the Scarlet & Gray's match against UC Riverside will be streamed on the Mountain West Network and MW App, while their match against Southern Utah will be streamed on the UNLV Athletics YouTube page.
WHAT'S ON THE DOCKET
The UNLV volleyball team will open MW play with four straight road matches where they will face San Jose State (Sept. 25), Fresno State (Sept. 27), UNR (Oct. 2) and Air Force (Oct. 4).
LAST TIME OUT
UNLV volleyball went 2-1 at the ASICS Invitational, sweeping UC Irvine and Montana State before falling to Oregon State in four sets. Alondra Alarcon was named the MW Offensive Player of the Week, Rheanna Deen-Jackson was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week and Kaia Thiele was named the MW Freshman of the Week. Alarcon averaged 3.8 kills and logged an attack efficiency of .388 across 10 sets. Deen-Jackson averaged two blocks per set for the Rebels over 10 sets of action, while Thiele averaged 5.9 assists and 2.1 digs per set.
TOP FIVE STATS
Among Mountain West foes, here's where the Rebels sit:
Team
-Service Aces Per Set: 3rd (1.85)
-Hitting Percentage: 4th (.232)
-Assists Per Set: 4th (11.67)
-Kills Per Set: 4th (12.74)
-Blocks Per Set: 4th (2.37)
Individual
Alondra Alarcon
-Kills Per Set: 5th (3.20)
Jaida Harris
-Service Aces Per Set : 3rd (0.52)
Rheanna Deen-Jackson
-Blocks Per Set: 4th (1.44)
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
>UC Riverside: The Highlanders went 0-2 in a pair of neutral site matches in Long Beach, Calif., losing to San Diego State (3-0) and Oregon (3-1). Across 26 sets, the Highlanders have put up 279 kills on 834 attempts (.131 attacking efficiency), whereas their opponents have produced 308 kills on 797 attempts, hitting at .246 efficiency. UC Riverside averages 10.7 kills per set, 9.8 assists, 1.12 service aces, 12.31 digs and 1.19 blocks, while also committing an average of 1.81 reception errors per set. Individually, Sophia Ewalefo leads the team in kills (86), Makena Tong in assists (203), Jessica Dean in digs (109) and Evelyn Hendrix in blocks (20.0).
>Southern Utah: The Thunderbirds went an impressive 1-2 in the Lumberjack Classic, defeating UC San Diego for their first win of the season. Over 24 sets, SUU has racked up 237 kills on 748 attack attempts , while opponents have posted 286 kills on 726 attempts at a .242 clip. The Thunderbirds average 9.9 kills per set, nine assists per set, 1.21 service aces per set, 11.5 digs per set and 1.54 blocks per set. Among individual standouts, Victoria Zibecchi leads in kills with 55, followed by Amaya Tobias (46) and Kaitlyn Hoelker (36). On the setting side, Asya Akbulut has 103 assists, with Swayzee Mason next at 46. Defensively, Kaitlyn Hoelker leads with 63 digs and Amaya Tobias with 19.0 total 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.
