Kenzie Jones, Sports Editor, @KenzieScribbler
In a tightly contested match Utah Valley falls to in-state rivals Utah on Tuesday night. The Wolverines played tough all night long, but despite their strong efforts still fell in straight sets (25-22, 26-24, 25-23).
The first set was totally in the Wolverines favor as they took advantage of a number of Utah miscues. The Utes countered back slowly by the time the score was 15-12 it looked like Utah was starting to settle into play. Cassie Wahlin made a spectacular kill to bring UVU on top with a score of 19-17. By then everyone was ready for the Wolverines to take the first set, but Utah managed to slip in a 8-3 run and stole that first win.
The second set was marked by even play as it was the closest of the night featuring 18 ties and seven lead change as both sides battled back-and-forth for most of the frame. Eventually UVU took the largest lead of the set (17-14) when Lauren Bakker planted an ace. It was a short lived advantage as the Utes scored the next three point to tie it up at 17-all. Macky Treanor hit a late kill followed quickly by another ace from Bakker to give UVU back the advantage at 24-23. With one point left for the set it looked like a Wolverine win, but Utah snuck in there again with a three point run to take the frame.
The last set mirrored the first two as it stayed close the entire way. McKenna Tait guided UVU into a late frame lead of 21-20 with a superb ace. Her team wasn’t able to keep the rally and the Utes scored four unanswered point to take a 24-21 match-point advantage. Even with a harrowing try by scoring the next two points the lady Wolverines weren’t able to finish the comeback. Utah finish the set and the match with a kill from Shelby Dalton.
Utah Valley’s women’s volleyball will finish up their 11-match road swing at the Mean Green Classic this weekend. There they will start the Texas tournament by facing off against Jackson State on Friday, September 12th at 3:30p.m. MT.
