Oct. 2, 2010
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Utah Valley's women's volleyball team dominated the first set of its match at the reigning Great West Conference champion North Dakota Fighting Sioux Saturday night but ended up dropping the match in four sets (25-13, 22-25, 18-25, 21-25).
With the loss the Wolverines fall to 9-8 (1-2 GWC), while the Fighting Sioux improve their record to 12-5 (2-0 GWC.)
"The girls came out and played with a lot of energy," UVU head coach Sam Atoa said. "It is evident in the score that we came in and dominated the first of the match. North Dakota played better volleyball though as we were not able to execute here or there but we were very close. I was very proud of the girls effort and what they did."
In the first set, UVU erupted from the start as it scored 15 of the first 20 points to take a commanding 15-5 lead. The Wolverines continued to pour it on in the set as they ran away with a 25-13 win. UVU senior Kayli Doxey led her squad in the set with five kills and helped the Wolverines outhit the Sioux .375 to -.083.
With UVU leading 10-6 in the second set following a service ace from senior Dani Robison, UND countered however as it managed to tie the score at 11-all. Both teams then battled one another as the set then stayed close the rest of the way. After a kill from UVU junior Sarah Clement to trail only by one at 23-22, the Sioux answered by scoring the next two points to tie the overall match-score at one win apiece.
In the third set Doxey answered the bell once again for her Wolverines as she recorded six more kills but it wasn't enough as UND stretched it lead out of reach late. The Fighting Sioux won the set by seven points.
In a must-win fourth set, UVU played with a purpose as it took a five-point advantage at 11-6 following an ace from senior Kathleen Stevens. The Wolverines then stretched their lead to six points a bit later on a Robison kill at 19-13 but back came the home Sioux. UND went on to score 12 of the final 14 points to put away the Wolverines in four sets.
Doxey led UVU offensively as she recorded a team-high 15 kills, while Robison and junior Jaicee Kuresa added nine and eight kills respectively. Freshman setter Brookelyn Campbell continued her strong first year as she put up 40 assists, while Clement led the Wolverines around the net with five blocks.
UND was led by Erin Joki who recorded a match-high 17 kills. Annika Smed and Devin Trefz also notched double figures in kills for the Fighting Sioux as they finished with 12 and 11 respectively.
UVU will now come home for a busy three-match home stand next week. The Wolverines will welcome Weber State (Oct. 5), Chicago State (Oct. 7) and BYU (Oct. 9).
"We're going to continue to get better and better," Atoa added. "It's going to be a busy week but we always play with enthusiasm and energy in front of our fans at home. We are looking forward to getting back and playing at home."
