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Early in the week, the Utah volleyball staff cautioned their players: They didn't want to hear the "B-word" leading to Friday's NCAA first-round match.

So far, so good. Coach Beth Launiere said she hasn't heard players talking about BYU — not with the challenge of facing UNLV (23-7) on Friday afternoon looming. But that doesn't mean the team isn't feeling a palpable buzz going back to Smith Fieldhouse for the second time this year.

"We're full of excitement," junior outside hitter Adora Anae said. "We're stoked to go back to that gym."

No. 22 Utah (20-11) is stoked on many levels this postseason, returning to the NCAA Tournament after a year out of the field after finishing in the top half of the Pac-12.

While they took a bus to Provo on Wednesday afternoon, Utah is hoping for plenty of hometown support this weekend, as well as a bit of the magic that has helped them thrive on the road this year.

But before a potential rematch with BYU — whom Utah beat in five sets in Provo in September — the Utes will face the Rebels. Not peeking ahead has been the main challenge of the week.

"We always say we want to focus one game at a time," junior blocker Tawnee Luafalemana said. "BYU is our rival, so it's hard, but knowing we have to get past UNLV first is a big deal, too."

UNLV was the final Mountain West at-large team to make the field, but the Rebels have a wild card: right side Bree Hammel. The senior leads UNLV in kills (423) and aces (40), but is also one of the leaders in digs and blocks for the Rebels.

Launiere said Hammel is unlike any player the Utes have seen to date.

"She's all over the court for them," she said. "It would be like in basketball, being point guard, posting up, shooting threes, driving. She kind of just does it all."

Of course, it's a good bet that UNLV hasn't played a player quite like Utah's star, either: Anae led the Pac-12 in kills, points and total attacks this year on the way to first team all-conference honors.

But the key to one of the top offenses in the country this year (No. 3 in kills, No. 2 in assists) hasn't been just Anae, who has starred each of the last two years, but in building around her. Getting junior hitter Eliza Katoa healthy was a key addition to the team, Launiere said, as were the additions of Luafalemana and setter Bailey Choy, among others.

"Obviously, Adora is a big key to that," Launiere said. "But just getting as much diversity around Adora — a lot of people are contributing."

Utah has only made the Sweet 16 twice, the last time coming in 2008. The Utes have knocked off five ranked road opponents this year, so they're hoping they can add a sixth if they earn a rematch with the No. 10 Cougars by beating UNLV.

Anae, for one, hopes that Utah's two Sweet 16 banners will get some company by the end of the month.

"This team is driven," Anae said. "We're not one-dimensional, we're like six-dimensional. We're firing on all cylinders. We have a deep bench. We can do great things."

Twitter: @kylegoon —

Utah vs. UNLV

P NCAA Tournament first round

At Smith Fieldhouse, Provo

Start • 5 p.m.

Records • Utah 20-11; UNLV 23-7

Series history • Utah leads 29-4

Last meeting • UNLV 3, Utah 2 (Nov. 13, 2010)