Photo by Byron Howard
It’s a packed slate for the volleyball team this week. They start with a quick trip to Cedar City to take on Southern Utah Tuesday. SUU took part in last year’s Wolverine Invitational and fell to UVU in straight sets. After finishing last season 4-24 and a winless 0-13 on the road, the Thunderbirds should be a good tune-up for the Wolverines.
Thursday, UVU volleyball will begin hosting its annual Wolverine Invitational. This year’s teams are Long Beach State, Montana and No. 8 Kansas. Hosting a top-25 program is a big deal for the team, and the Wolverines will get the first crack at them Thursday at 7 p.m. The Jayhawks will be a major measuring stick for UVU, having finished last season 27-3. UVU is 0-3 all-time against UK.
The volleyball team will continue its Wolverine Invitational schedule Friday at 5 p.m. with Montana. The Grizzlies are an unfamiliar opponent for the Wolverines, having only met once previously. UVU will then wrap its four-games-in-five-days stretch Saturday at noon with its first-ever meeting with Long Beach State. The Beach finished last season 21-10, including 13-3 in the Big West Conference, making them a formidable opponent.
The men’s soccer team will wrap its season-starting home stand with a visit from Cal State Northridge. This is the second straight year the Wolverines will welcome the Matadors to Clyde Field. UVU won last year’s match 1-0 with the only goal coming in the 77th minute. Having lost last season’s leading scorer Juan Samayoa and starting goalkeeper Kevin Marquez, this year’s Matadors will have some new faces playing crucial roles.
The women’s soccer team will finish its six-game road streak in Oklahoma this weekend prior to its home opener. Friday at 11 a.m., the Wolverines will take on Tulsa, which started the season at the Kansas Invitational with a 3-1 loss to Nebraska and a 1-1 tie with Central Michigan. Addyson Guthrie is the early scoring leader for the Golden Hurricane with one goal and one assist.
The Wolverines will stay in Tulsa and wrap the weekend with a Sunday matinee starting at noon against Oral Roberts. UVU is the second WAC opponent for the Golden Eagles in 2017 after they took down Missouri-Kansas City 2-1 in their season opener. Freshman Shayla Padilla is off to a good start this season with one goal and one assist through ORU’s first two games. Goalkeeper Paige Vincent had a rough outing in the team’s second game, allowing five goals before being pulled in the 67th minute.
