Community · Valley-wide
UNLV volleyball retires Mariena Hayden's No. 7 jersey, the first number retired in the program's history
UNLV honored Mariena Hayden before Saturday's match with UNR, making her No. 7 the program's first retired jersey. The former outside hitter is returning to Las Vegas to play for the Vegas Thrill in 2027.
Listen to this brief · 4 min
Read aloud by an AI voice from the text below. Download MP3
What happened
UNLV's volleyball program retired the No. 7 jersey worn by Mariena Hayden on Oct. 17, 2026, the Las Vegas Sun reported. The ceremony took place before the Rebels' match with UNR. According to the Sun, it is the first jersey retirement in the history of the program.
Hayden is described by the Sun as one of the most decorated players to come through UNLV volleyball. Her number is now the first to hang in the rafters for the program.
Why UNLV chose Hayden
Hayden played five seasons at UNLV, finishing in 2021. Over that time she was named Mountain West Player of the Year twice, the Sun reported. She helped lead the Rebels to a 91-56 record and four postseason appearances.
Career records
Hayden left UNLV as the program's career leader in aces with 352. She also holds the top spot in career total attempts at 5,144 and career kills at 1,997, according to the Sun. She ranks third in career digs with 1,445.
Single-season marks
Several of the program's single-season records also belong to Hayden. She recorded 114 service aces and 543 kills in 2018, both program highs for a single season. Her 1,323 total attempts in 2017 is also first in program history, the Sun reported.
What Hayden and others said
In a news release cited by the Sun, Hayden said, "To have my jersey retired at UNLV means everything, especially coming from a small town." She added that the honor reflected the work she and her teammates put in during her time as a Rebel, and that being the first jersey in the rafters was special to her.
Vegas Thrill owner Michael Landier also commented on the honor in a statement. He said his organization was thrilled Hayden had earned the distinction of being the first UNLV volleyball player to have her number retired.
A return to Las Vegas as a pro
Hayden, an outside hitter, has signed with the Vegas Thrill for the upcoming 2027 Major League Volleyball season, the Sun reported. The move brings her back to the city where she finished her college career.
Hayden on the Thrill
Hayden said she is excited to join the team, according to the Sun. "I fell in love with Las Vegas when I first came here for school," she said, describing the move as a full circle moment that connects her college and professional careers. She also said the city and UNLV have shown her a lot of support.
The team's view
Landier said the Thrill is looking forward to adding Hayden to its roster. "We are very excited to have a player of her caliber compete for our team in the 2027 Major League Volleyball season," he said in the statement reported by the Sun.
Why it matters locally
The ceremony marks a milestone for UNLV volleyball, which had not retired a number before Hayden's. It also ties the university program to the valley's professional volleyball team through one of its most accomplished former players. Readers can find more campus and local stories in our community section, including recent news on UNLV's leadership.
What to watch next
- Hayden is set to play for the Vegas Thrill in the upcoming 2027 Major League Volleyball season.
- The Rebels' match with UNR, which followed the jersey retirement ceremony on Oct. 17.
