Aug. 28, 2010

COLUMBIA, Mo. - In an early Saturday match with the Maryland Terps at the Missouri Tiger Invitational, Utah Valley fought hard but ended up falling 3-0 (19-25, 27-29, 23-25).

In the first-ever meeting between the two squads, the Wolverines (0-2) got off to a good start and took an early 2-0 lead in set number one on kills from senior Kayli Doxey and junior Sarah Clement. Maryland (1-1) quickly battled back to tie the score at four and eight-all. From there the Terps managed to take control of the set as they went on to win it by a score of 25-19.

In very tightly contested second set, UVU never trailed by more than four points. With Maryland leading 23-21 late, the Wolverines scored the next two points to tie it at 23. From there each team matched one another's every move as the score went back-and-forth until it was tied at 27-apeice. Maryland then scored on a kill by Maddi Lee to go up 28-27 and ended the set on an attack error by UVU junior Jaicee Kuresa.

In the final set the Wolverines trailed by as many as five points at 18-13. There, UVU quickly answered by scoring seven of the next nine points to tie the score at 20-all on a service ace from senior Kathleen Stevens. UVU then knotted the scores at 22 and 23-all on a Doxey and senior Dani Robison kills but the Terps immediately answered with two Mary Cushman kills of their own to pull out the sweep.

Doxey had a good offensive match for the Wolverines as she finished with a match-high 18 kills and an even .500 hitting percentage. Stevens and freshman Brookelyn Campbell tied for the tops in digs as they both had 11, Campbell also added 28 assists.

UVU will conclude play at the Missouri Tiger Invitational tonight by taking on host Mizzou at 5:30. The Wolverines are 0-2 all-time against the Tigers.