Sept. 11, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - Utah Valley University's women's volleyball team capped off their 3-0 weekend at the ASU Sheraton Invitational this weekend with a 3-1 defeat of High Point University (26-24, 25-20, 17-25, 25-21) on Saturday to win the invitational. UVU (5-5) previously beat UC Riverside and host Arizona State on Friday.
UVU freshman Brookelyn Campbell was named the Most Valuable Player of the invitational, while senior Kayli Doxey made the All-Tournament team.
"I am very happy with how the girls responded to the different challenges within the match," UVU head coach Sam Atoa said. "We played well and I'm happy with our success this weekend. I was a great weekend for us, we were the best team here and we showed some potential with what we are trying to do and get better at. I'm really proud of each of the girls."
UVU was led on offensively on Saturday by junior Chelsey Heaps who finished with a team-high 15 kills. Junior Sarah Clement also finished in double figures in kills as she added 11 as well as five blocks. Senior Dani Robison also had a solid game for the Wolverines as she finished with nine kills, three blocks and two service aces. The MVP Campbell had the only double-double on the day for UVU as she put up 35 assists and 10 digs.
"I was really proud of Brookelyn (Campbell) for being able to help lead this team as a young freshman setter and for Kat (Stevens) for helping secure our defense on the back row. I thought Chelsey (Heaps) really stepped it up and played a very good tournament. Dani (Robison) too had a good tournament and I really like what we are doing in the middle. Different girls really contributed in different ways."
UVU's momentum from Friday night's win over Arizona State seemed to carry over early in the first set as they took a 5-1 lead. High Point (2-8) then struck back as they tied it at 8-all and eventually took a 20-17 late lead. The Wolverines rallied though and eventually won the first set on an ace from senior Kathleen Stevens to take the first set 26-24.
In a close second set, the Wolverines took a three-point lead at 11-8 on a service ace from Robison. HPU then answered and got within one at 12-11 but UVU countered by scoring five straight to go up 17-11. The Wolverines went on to take a 23-19 advantage late in the set. UVU went on to win the set by a score of 25-20 thanks to two consecutive HPU errors.
With the score all knotted up at four early in a must win third set for the Panthers; HPU got going as they scored five consecutive to go up 9-4. UVU got back within three points a couple of times but High Point eventually put the set away and won it by a score of 25-17.
In the fourth set, UVU got going when it took a 9-6 lead on consecutive points scored by Doxey, Robison and Heaps. The Wolverines then extended their lead when they went up 15-11 but HPU wouldn't go away as they cut it to 15-13. UVU then threatened to put the match away as it scored the next four to go up 19-13.
High Point continued to fight though as they scored six of the next seven points to get within one at 20-19. UVU wouldn't let High Point all the way back as they answered by scoring four of the next five points to get it to match point at 24-20. Junior Jaicee Kuresa finished off the Wolverine win as she scored the final kill of the match to give UVU the victory (25-21).
UVU will now come home and begin Great West Conference play on Thursday, Sept. 16, when it hosts conference-foe NJIT. Following the NJIT match, the Wolverines will head up to Logan, and will take part in the Utah State Invitational next Friday and Saturday.
Tournament Champion: Utah Valley
Tournament MVP: Brookelyn Campbell - UVU
All-Tournament Team:
Kayli Doxey - UVU
Ashley Kastl - ASU
Sarah Reaves - ASU
Kelly Simpson - UCR
Megan Smith - HPU
