Sept. 13, 2008
OREM, Utah - For the second night in a row the Utah Valley women's volleyball team recorded a sweep at home as the Wolverines (2-5) downed Idaho State (2-8) in three sets (25-22, 25-17, 26-24) to win the La Quinta Invitational. Sophomore Kayli Broadbent was named the tournament MVP with 34 kills in two matches.
Joining Broadbent on the All-Tournament team from Utah Valley were freshman Chelsey Garfield, junior Allyce Wilson, and senior Kristi Lindley.
The Wolverines set their highest attack percentage mark of the season at .314 against the Bengals. UVU also tallied 50 total kills to ISU's 27. Broadbent had 18 kills on the night with six digs.
"We've been working on playing from behind in practice, and I think that really helped us in the third set," UVU head coach Sam Atoa said. "Kayli [Broadbent] especially came through for us tonight. She came in here and didn't care who was in her way. She just pounded the ball."
The first set went to UVU 25-22. The lead traded hands often throughout the first half of the set, but the Wolverines took control down the stretch and extended a four-point lead at 24-20 on their way to the three-point win. Freshman Jaicee Kuresa had four kills on seven swings in the set to lead all attackers. Both teams defended the net well as Idaho State recorded four total team blocks, and Utah Valley recorded three.
UVU rode the momentum into the second set and opened an 8-4 lead before ISU head coach Chad Teichert called timeout in an attempt to squelch the Wolverine fire. The Bengals pulled within three at 11-14, but were not able to catch the Wolverines as they surged to an 18-11 lead with junior transfer Marla Morin at the service line. Utah Valley took the set 25-17 hitting .500 as a team with three total team blocks. Broadbent had six kills on 11 swings to lead all attackers.
Idaho State held an early advantage early in the third set, but could not build the momentum to pull away. Utah Valley regained the lead at 16-15, but relinquished it again at 20-21. The Bengals had two set points with a 24-22 lead, but the Wolverines battled back to take lead at 25-24 and earn their first match point of the night. One was all it took as UVU won the match on an attack error from ISU. Broadbent led the Wolverine offense again with nine kills in the set on 18 swings.
The Wolverines beat North Texas in three sets Friday night, and the Bengals beat North Texas Saturday afternoon in four sets in the first two matches of the tournament.
Atoa's squad will be back in action Tuesday at Utah State at 7 p.m. and then again Friday at Washington at 7 p.m. The Wolverines will return home Sept. 23 to face in-state rival Weber State at 7 p.m. in the Shurian Family Activity Center.
