Round 2: UNLV vs. Arizona

UNLV 3, ARIZONA 2 (25-22, 25-20, 17-25, 19-25, 15-9)

TUCSON, AZ — Mariena Hayden punched home four kills in crunch time during the fifth set as UNLV outlasted Arizona to earn a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2021 NIVC.

Set 5 was tied at 7-7 before the Rebels (25-9) made the big push. Hayden (a two-time Mountain West Conference player of the year) finished with 17 kills, and Shelby Capllonch closed with 11 kills and 24 digs as UNLV won for the first time in four meetings versus the Wildcats (17-16).

Jaelyn Hodge had 23 kills and 12 digs for Arizona. Sofia Maldonado Diaz had 11 kills, Alayna Johnson added nine kills and Emery Herman dished out 49 assists. Kamaile Hiapo came up with 30 digs.