MARTIN AND GABRIEL HONORED WITH ALL-REGION SELECTION
This marks the first time in program history that multiple Rebels were selected to the AVCA All-Region Team.
@UNLVvball | AVCA All-Region Release
After UNLV volleyball’s Isabel Martin was named the Mountain West’s Player of the Year and Jhenna Gabriel was named the MW Newcomer of the Year, both were selected to the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s 2022 Pacific South All-Region Team.
Only four other Rebels have been recognized by the AVCA in program history – a total of eight times, Lauren Miramonethes was named to the 2007 All-West Region Team; however, she was All-West Region Honorable Mention two years earlier in 2005. Camille Cunningham (2008), Bree Hammel (2014 and 2016) and Mariena Hayden (Spr. 2021 and Fall 2021) were also All-Pacific South.
Martin, the redshirt junior outside hitter, led the Rebels to become the 2022 Mountain West Regular-Season Champions, earning them a ticket to the 2022 NCAA Volleyball Tournament and the Rebels’ fifth consecutive postseason tournament. The Germany native was named MW Offensive Player of the Week on two occasions this season, as well as earning MW Player of the Year honors. Isabel collected 10 double-doubles this season and also recorded 27 double-figure kill matches, which included a career-high 21 vs. Wichita State (Sept. 8). She also notched 12 matches with a .300 or better hitting efficiency, including a .542 effort against Boise State (Oct. 15). Defensively, she had at least 10 or more digs in 13 outings, including a career-high 25 at Air Force (Oct. 8) and chipped in 62 total blocks.
Gabriel, the graduate student setter, was the first ever Rebel to be named the MW Newcomer of the Year earlier this season. The Honolulu, Hawai’i native ended the season leading the conference and ranked 39th in the nation for assists per set with 10.45 with 1149 total assists. She notched 30 double-figure assist matches, which included a career-high 66 against UTRGV (Aug. 26). Jhenna also tacked on 26 aces, 42 kills and a hitting percentage of .227. Defensively, she recorded 13 double-figure dig matches, which included a season-high 19 against New Mexico (Nov. 5), and recorded 35 total blocks.
Statistically speaking, UNLV ended the season ranked 12th in the NCAA for match W-L percentage with .839, sat 28th in hitting percentage (.263), 30th for kills per set (13.85) and 44th in the nation for assists per set with 12.71. The Scarlet & Gray ranked second in the conference for hitting efficiency (.263), second for both assists per set (12.71) and in kills per set (13.85), they also sat third for digs with 14.42 per set.
OTHER NEWS & NOTES
– Dating back to 2019, UNLV has gone 83-15 in its last 98 matches. The Rebels have won 26 of 29 matches this season and 52 of its last 61.
– UNLV returned eight letterwinners this season. Also returning to the squad from last season were Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos, Arien Fafard, Jordyn Freeman, Chloe Thomas, Isha Knight, Keyana Cruse, Dakota Quinlan, Livvy Setla, Isabel Martin and Thea Sweder. There are eight newcomers, which include three freshmen, a trio of transfers and a pair of graduate transfers.
– UNLV is led by fifth-year head coach Dawn Sullivan, who guided her squad to the postseason for the fifth straight season.
– Junior Arien Fafard had her 1,000th career assist during the opening weekend of the Rebels’ 2022 campaign at UNT.
– The Rebels defeated No. 19 Kansas on September 10, 2022, making that the second win over a ranked team since 2016. The first being then No. 25 Washington State during the fall 2021 season at the Rebel Challenge (Sept. 4, 2021).
– Head Coach Dawn Sullivan notched 100 wins during the match against then MW leaders San Jose State, 3-1.
– UNLV was the first MW program to clinch a spot in the MW Tournament held November 23-25 in Fort Collins, Colorado.
– Jhenna Gabriel recorded her 1,000th assist for the season during the Fresno State match (Nov. 12).
– UNLV earned at least a share of the MW Regular Season title after sweeping Fresno State (Nov. 12).