MATCHES 18 & 19
UNLV (8-9, 4-2) at San José State (6-11, 1-5)
Spartan Gym, San Jose, Calif.
Thursday, October 17
6:00 p.m. PT
Bleed Blue Match - All fans are encouraged to wear blue!
First 50 fans get a Spartan Rally Towel.
Live Stats - http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=270696
Live video - https://watchstadium.com/live/unlv-at-san-jose-state/
New Mexico (5-13, 0-6) at San José State (6-11, 1-5)
Spartan Gym, San Jose, Calif.
Saturday, October 19
12:00 p.m. PT
Social Media Day - Fans following the Spartans on social media can get discounted admission.
Live stats - http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=270695
Live video - https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/2018/7/31/mountain-west-digital-network.aspx
HOMECOMING WEEK FOR THE SPARTANS: After playing four of the first six conference matches on the road, the Spartans host two Mountain West matches this week as San José State University celebrates Spartanpalooza Homecoming 2019. The team welcomes UNLV on Thursday and New Mexico on Saturday to Spartan Gym.
San José State is looking to keep its winning ways going as the team broke a six-match losing streak last Saturday with a 3-0 win over Air Force. The losing streak was the longest for SJSU since the 2014 season.
LIVE STATS: Live stat links for all matches are available on the San José State website at https://sjsuspartans.com/schedule.aspx?path=wvball.
LIVE VIDEO: Both matches will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network this week. Fans can access the stream on the Spartan website at
www.sjsuspartans.com/watch and select "Mountain West Network."
ABOUT UNLV: The Rebels enter Thursday night's match with an 8-9 overall record and 4-2 MW mark. The team won a pair of matches last week, defeating Utah State 3-0 last Thursday and Boise State, 3-2, this past Saturday, coming from behind an 0-2 deficit to win. Head coach Dawn Sullivan is in her second year at the helm of the program.
UNLV Leaders
Hit % .297 Macy Smith
Kills 216, 2.88 ps Shelby Capllonch
Assists 442, 5.89 ps Antonette Rolda
Aces 29, 0.59 ps Mariena Hayden
Digs 232, 3.09 ps Shelby Capllonch
Blocks 63, 0.84 ps Kate Brennan
Series Record - UNLV leads 10-7.
First Meeting - W, 3-1, October 11, 1996, The Event Center
Last Meeting - L, 3-1, November 3, 2018, Spartan Gym
Last SJSU Win - 3-1, November 4, 2017, Cox Pavilion
Current Streak - L2
Last 10 meetings - 1-9
2018 meetings: UNLV won both meetings last season by the same 3-1 score.
ABOUT NEW MEXICO: The Lobos enter the week with a 5-13 overall record and 0-6 MW mark and play at Nevada Thursday night. The team has lost six-straight heading into the week. Head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar is in his first season at the helm of the program.
New Mexico Leaders
Hit % .189 Tai Bierria
Kills 217, 3.14 ps Lauren Twitty
Assists 389, 5.72 ps Jaclyn Inclan
Aces 19, 0.28 ps Lauren Twitty
Digs 267, 3.87 ps Alena Moldan
Blocks 67, 1.05 ps Rachel Murphy
Series Record - New Mexico leads 16-6.
First Meeting - L, 2-0, September 26, 1981, San Jose, Calif.
Last Meeting - W, 3-2, November 1, 2018, Spartan Gym
Last SJSU Win - 3-2, November 1, 2019, Spartan Gym
Current Streak - W1
Last 10 meetings -3-7
2018 meetings: The Spartans lost in Albuquerque, 3-0, in October, before returning to Spartan Gym for a 3-2 win to start November.
HEAD COACH JOLENE SHEPARDSON: San José State head coach Jolene Shepardson is in her sixth season at the helm of the program and ninth as a head coach. She has a 68-97 record in six seasons at SJSU, and a 111-144 coaching record in nine seasons. She recorded her 50th win at San José State with a 3-2 win over Pacific on September 8, 2018.
SMEVOG DIGGIN' THE BALL: In her first season as the Spartans' full-time libero, Sarah Smevog has recorded two 30+ dig matches. She recorded 35 digs in a loss at Utah State on October 3. Smevog is the fifth Spartan in school history to record 35 digs in a match, the seventh-highest total in school history.
35 Sarah Smevog, at Utah State, 10/3/19
Hanah Blume, vs. Campbell, 8/31/13
Courtney Zellmer, vs. Gonzaga, 8/28/10
Jessie Shull, at San Francisco, 9/1/04
Dawnis Wilson, at Santa Clara, 10/15/91
Smevog recorded 34 digs in win over North Texas. She is third Spartan to record 34 digs in a match, joining Jessie Shull (9/16/06) and Barbara Higgs (9/26/87). Smevog is now the 10th player in school history to record 34 or more digs in a match.
34 Sarah Smevog, vs. North Texas, 9/6/19
Jessie Shull, vs. CS Northridge, 9/16/06
Barbara Higgins, vs. UC Santa Barbara, 9/26/87
DOUBLE-DOUBLES FOR EVERYONE: The Spartans have recorded more double-doubles this season through 17 matches (20) than the entire 2018 season (11). In the match at Nevada on October 8, three Spartans had double-doubles.
Mamie Garard 41 assists, 16 digs
Haylee Nelson 12 kills, 17 digs
Fernanda Vido 11 kills, 11 digs.
Garard leads the team with five double-doubles this year, while Vido now has 15 in her two-plus seasons at SJSU.
SMEVOG HONORED BY MOUNTAIN WEST: Sophomore libero Sarah Smevog was named the Mountain West Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week for matches played October 1-6 .Smevog averaged 6.11 digs, 0.33 service aces and 1.11 assists for the Spartans in two matches. She had a career best 35 digs at Utah State, tying for the seventh highest total in school history. Smevog is the fifth Spartan in school history to record 35 digs in a match. At Boise State, Smevog had 20 digs in four sets and recorded three service aces in four serves during the third set. She added five assists in each match
SERVING IT UP SINCE 2002: The Spartans went 17 years between 14+ service aces in a match. This year's team recorded 14 aces in a 3-0 win over Marist on, ironically, September 14. Thaliana Grajeda tied her career-high with five. Makayla Lewis served up four aces, while Sarah Smevog added three.Mamie Garard and Haylee Nelson each had one.
The team had not recorded at least 14 aces in a match since September 7, 2002, when SJSU had 18 aces in a 3-1 win over Cal Poly at the Stanford Tournament. In that match, Liz Hudson led the team with six aces, while Christina Lukens and Fran Pozzi recorded four aces and Stephanie Pascucci and Kimberly Noble recorded two aces a piece.
UP NEXT: The Spartans go back on the road next week for matches at #14 Colorado State on 24th and at Wyoming on the 26th.