Kenzie Jones, Sports Editor, @KenzieScribbler
On Thursday evening the Utah Valley women’s volleyball team fell to in-state foe Weber State. The non-conference action ended after four sets with final scores of 22-25, 28-26, 18-25, 17-25.
The opening set showed UVU holding a 16-14 advantage that looked like they would stay ahead for the frame. Reeling off four straight point the Wildcats flipped the advantage to their favor and created a 16-18 lead. The Wolverines supplied a counter attack and briefly overcame the deficit at 22-21. The tightly contested opening frame featured 15 ties and eight lead changes, but in the end WSU scored the final four points and took the set by three.
The second marks an other close set that didn’t find stand out excitement until the end. Weber State took a 22-24 set-point advantage after scoring three consecutive points. It was make it or break it for the frame when the Wolverines struck back with unanswered points of their own to take a 25-24 lead. The set seesawed there and left the crowd on the edge of there seats with each earning a cheer or a grown. Then Kiahna Steiner drilled home a kill that was followed by a block assist from Madison Wolford and Kalani Norris to give UVU the set victory.
The Wildcats jumped out to a 0-5 lead early in the third after capitalizing on a few Wolverine miscues. The deficit was quickly overcame as UVU tied it up at 9-all. Weber State once again pulled ahead as they scored nine of the final 11 points and took the frame by seven points.
WSU carried their momentum over into the fourth and final set as they mirrored their quick lead in the third with another 0-5 advantage. The Wildcats continued their lead as it later became 9-13, but UVU battled back by picking up back-to-back block assists to pull within two. The 11-13 shrunken deficit would prove to be as close as Utah Valley would get as Weber State went on to take the set and the match.
The lady Wolverines will return to conference play on Thursday as they face off against Grand Canyon. The return to conference play will begin at 7:00p.m. MT in the PE Building.
