Broncos host San Diego State and UNLV

MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY, WEEK FOUR

Thursday, Oct. 14

7 p.m. | San Diego State at Boise State | Live Scoring | MW Network
Parking in the Albertsons Stadium west lot next to Bronco Gym
Promotion: Pink Match, $3 tickets if you wear pink.

Saturday, Oct. 16

12 p.m. | UNLV at Boise State | Live Scoring | MW Network
Parking in Lincoln Parking Garage

THIS WEEK IN BRONCO VOLLEYBALL
WHAT'S HAPPENING: Boise State (14-4, 3-3 MW) returns to Boise for a three-match homestand starting this Thursday with San Diego State (5-13, 2-4 MW) at 7 p.m. (Mountain) followed by UNLV (14-3, 5-1 MW) at 12 p.m. on Saturday and Utah State (12-6, 4-2 MW) on Tuesday, all matches are played in Bronco Gym.

SCOUTING BOISE STATE: The Broncos enter the week at 14-4 overall and 3-3 in league. Boise State is coming off a road split last week, recording a sweep at Air Force before falling in four at New Mexico.

Through 18 matches, Boise State is led by Spring 2021 All-MW and 2021 Fall Preseason All-MW honoree Lauren Ohlinger who has tallied team highs for kills (253), service aces (35) and points (304.0). Ohlinger leads the Mountain West in total kills, kills per set (3.83 kps) and total points, she ranks second in total service aces. The junior outside hitter is ranked ninth nationally for total service aces, 13th for service aces per set and 31st in total points.

Makayla Hansen follows with 147 kills and 69 blocks. Kayly Pau is third with 104 kills and 31 blocks, Alyssa Wissinger is fourth with 95 kills and 74 blocks (2nd MW).

As a team, Boise State hits .266 percent (1st MW / 24th NCAA) and holds opponents to .170 percent (3rd MW). The Broncos average 13.03 kills per set (4th MW), 2.85 blocks (1st MW / 9th NCAA), 2.00 service aces (2nd MW / 12th NCAA) and 13.39 digs (6th MW). Boise State is fourth nationally for total blocks (188.0) and 10th in total service aces (132).

SCOUTING SAN DIEGO STATE: The Aztecs are 5-13 overall and 2-4 in conference play. They are coming off a pair of home defeats last week falling to UNLV (L 3-0) and Fresno State (L 3-0). San Diego State is led by Victoria O'Sullivan with 201 kills and ranked fifth in the MW for kills per set at 3.41, Heipua Tautua'a is next with 120 kills. As a team, SDSU hits .211 percent (7th MW) while their opponents have hit .228 (8th MW). The Aztecs were picked to place sixth in the 2021 Mountain West race.

THE SAN DIEGO STATE SERIES: Boise State leads the all-time series by a slim 10-9 margin and leads the MW series 10-8. The Aztecs won the lone meeting last spring in Boise in five sets, the Broncos lead the series played in Boise by a 6-4 advantage.

SCOUTING UNLV: The Rebels are the defending conference champions and were picked to repeat in 2021. UNLV enters the week tied for first at 5-1 and are 14-3 overall. The Rebels are coming off a pair of victories last week winning at San Diego State (W 3-0) before returning home to defeat Fresno State (W 3-0). UNLV is led by Mariena Hayden with 184 kills and ranks second in the MW for kills per set at 3.82. Kate Brennan is third in the league for hitting percentage at .390. As a team, UNLV hits .248 percent (3rd MW) while its opponents have hit .165 (2nd MW).

THE UNLV SERIES: The all-time series is tight with Boise State leading it 12-10. The Rebels won both meetings last year at Las Vegas. Boise State leads the series in contests played in Bronco Gym by a 5-3 margin. The Broncos lead the MW series 10-6 which dates back to 2011.

FOLLOW THE ACTION: If you cannot attend, the best way to follow the action is by going to the volleyball schedule on BroncoSports.com and clicking on the appropriate "Live Scoring" and/or "Live Stream" links for the particular match you want to follow. For home and Mountain West contests the live stream is free of charge courtesy of the Mountain West Network.

ADMISSION: The price for attending the matches remains the same as in past years: $6 for adults, $4 for juniors (high school age and younger) and seniors 62 or older. Boise State students with valid ID cards and children two and under get in for free.

In addition, for the first time Boise State will be selling match tickets in advance for all volleyball home contests in 2021. Fans can purchase individual match tickets at the Boise State Ticket Office on the west side of Albertsons Stadium or via the internet at BroncoSports.com.

Seating is limited with the east side bleachers closed for the season due to COVID safety protocols that are in place for the 2021 campaign. So purchase your tickets early.

BRONCO SPORTS PASS: Once again Boise State will be offering the Bronco Sports Pass this year for $75, which will grant admission to all home regular season events during the 2021-22 season for: women's basketball, gymnastics, soccer, softball, volleyball and track & field. Note: The Bronco Sports Pass does not include any conference tournaments or postseason national tournaments hosted by Boise State.

Fans can purchase the Bronco Sports Pass at the Boise State Ticket Office on the west side of Albertsons Stadium or via the internet at BroncoSports.com.

NOTES: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT BRONCO VOLLEYBALL
FOR A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME: For a brief moment in time, last Friday the Broncos led the nation in total blocks with 181. They have since slipped to fourth heading into the week.

TEAM DEPTH / CHANGING LINEUP: Boise State has one of its strongest teams in program history and has had the luxury to start 13 of its 17 student-athletes at least once this season. Through 18 contests the Broncos have featured seven different lineups. The most used lineup to date has been Ohlinger, Wissinger, Boss, Casillas, O'Harra and Hansen, this group has started together seven times.

BOSS AT SETTER: Senior Danielle Boss returned at setter where she has started the previous three campaigns. She entered the season ranked ninth all-time and fifth in the rally scoring era (RSE) for career assists at Boise State with 2,151. She opened the season with 571 to move into seventh place overall and fourth in RSE with 2,722.

THE BLUE WALL TALLYING DOUBLE-DIGIT BLOCKS: The Broncos' frontline has recorded double-digit team blocks in 12 of 18 contests to date with a high of 18 against San Jose State (Sept. 30), tied for 12th all-time and tied for third during the rally scoring era (RSE).

THE BLUE WALL NATIONALLY RANKED: The Broncos lead the Mountain West and are ranked fourth nationally in blocking with 188. The wall leads the MW and is ninth in the NCAA for blocks per set at 2.85.

DONAHUE LOOKING FOR BLOCKS RECORD: Jessica Donahue enters the season with a chance to break the school record for career blocks. She currently stands at 407 to move into sixth place all-time, she needs to reach 493 for the record. She now sits in second during the rally scoring era, 13 short of tying for first. Donahue saw her first action of the season on Sept. 10 versus CSUN.

WISSINGER NATIONALLY RANKED FOR BLOCKS: Alyssa Wissinger is ranked 13th nationally in blocks per set at 1.35.

BOSS NATIONALLY RANKED FOR ASSISTS: Dani Boss is ranked 19th nationally for assists per set at 10.77, that leads the MW.

OHLINGER NATIONALLY RANKED: Lauren Ohlinger is ranked ninth in the NCAA for total service aces (35), 13th nationally for service aces per set (0.53) and 31st for total points (304.0).

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Players Mentioned

Danielle Boss

Jessica Donahue

Makayla Hansen

Lauren Ohlinger

Kayly Pau

Alyssa Wissinger