Nov. 13, 2010
Great West Conference Tournament Bracket
CHICAGO - Utah Valley dominated its final regular-season match Saturday at Chicago State (25-17, 25-16, 25-9) and in the process finished the season in second place in the Great West Conference standings.
With the victory, UVU finished its regular-season with a 20-10 overall record and a 9-3 GWC mark. With the loss the Cougars finished winless at 0-32 and 0-12. The Wolverines also picked up a little help on Saturday from Houston Baptist, as the Huskies defeated South Dakota to help UVU secure second place.
"The girls played well as everybody had an opportunity to get in and contribute," UVU head coach Sam Atoa said. "It's an attribute to us and all of the hard work that everyone has put in to get another 20-win season. I think that's remarkable for us being a young Division I program and what we are accomplishing at Utah Valley. The credit goes to the girls for working hard and believing that we can compete."
The win was a team effort on Saturday, as all 12 active players saw meaningful playing time. Junior Chelsey Heaps and redshirt-freshman Lindsay Barker led UVU in kills as they each finished with a team-high six. Right behind them was senior Kayli Doxey who finished with five and senior Dani Robison and junior Sarah Clement both added four apiece.
The Wolverines had 10 service aces in the match to the Cougars three. Doxey and senior Kathleen Stevens each finished with three aces. Stevens also put up a match-high 13 digs, while freshman Brookelyn Campbell added a match-high 18 assists and junior Rachel Anderson chipped in six. UVU also outhit CSU .256 to .012.
In the first two sets the Cougars hung with the Wolverines for the first third of each set. But in the end UVU had too much experience and depth as it went on to sweep Chicago State and ruin the Cougars' senior day.
The match concludes UVU's regular-season. The win also marked the second consecutive year that the Wolverines reached the 20-win plateau and their third in the past four years.
UVU will now prep for its first GWC Tournament Championship that will take place next weekend, Nov. 19-21, back in Chicago. UVU will head into the conference tournament on a four-match win-streak and it has also won nine of its last 10. The Wolverines, (No. 2 seed) will open up against Chicago State (No. 7 seed) for the second consecutive year.
"Second place is not exactly where we were hoping to get," Atoa added. "But we just weren't the best team to get ourselves to win the conference."
"Being where we are at it is important for us to take care of what we've got (with the second seed). I really like our chances in the tournament and I really feel like we've got some great athletes and great things going. It's going to be a battle and I expect to be right in the middle of it."
