Sept. 15, 2010
Complete Release in PDF Format
OREM, Utah - The Utah Valley University women's volleyball team (5-5) will open Great West Conference play Thursday evening in the Activity Center when they host NJIT. In the match, UVU will be looking to extend its winning streak to four, after it went 3-0 at the ASU Sheraton Invitational last weekend and won the tournament hosted by the PAC-10's Arizona State.
Later in the week, UVU will head up to Logan, to participate in the Utah State Invitational. There, the Wolverines will play UC Riverside (Fri. at 12:30 p.m.), host Utah State (Fri. at 7 p.m.) and Loyola Marymount (Sat. at 10 a.m.).
NJIT comes to Orem with a 1-8 record on the year. The Highlanders lone victory came over St. Peter's College back on Aug. 28. Last season NJIT finished third in conference with a 7-5 clip. The UVU, NJIT match will be the opening match of Great West play as no other GWC schools have previously met-up in the 2010 season.
In conference, UVU will be looking to finish one slot better than it did a year ago when it took second in the GWC with a 10-2 record. This year the Wolverines are looking to win the conference.
Thursday's home match with NJIT will also be Hometown Hero Night for senior defensive specialist Lanni O'Reilly. Fans from the state of California will get into the match for only $1, while anyone from Lanni's hometown of Redlands, will get in for FREE (show your ID at the ticket table). The first 200 fans will also receive a Lanni O'Reilly Hometown Hero poster. Following the match, Lanni will sign autographs.
UC Riverside (1-8) and UVU will match up for the second consecutive Friday this week as the two previously met last Friday at the ASU Sheraton Invitational. In that match, the Wolverines swept the Highlanders 3-0. UCR's lone win of the year came against High Point last weekend at the ASU Sheraton Invitational.
The host Utah State Aggies enter play this weekend with a perfect 10-0 record and are coming off of a big win over BYU in Provo on Tuesday. UVU is 2-5 all time against Utah State. The two squads have split their last four meetings.
Loyola Marymount (4-5) returns to the state of Utah for the second straight week as it went 0-3 at the BYU Molten Classic in Provo last week. LMU leads the all-time series with UVU 1-0 as the two last played in 2006 in Tempe, Ariz.
Last weekend UVU went 3-0 at the ASU Sheraton Invite and won the tournament. Freshman setter Brookelyn Campbell was named the MVP of the invitational, while senior outside hitter Kayli Doxey was named to the All-Tournament team. The GWC also recognized Campbell and senior Kathleen Stevens for their play last weekend as they were named the conference Players of the Week.
The wins against the three opponents in Arizona were UVU's first victories against each respective program. It was the Wolverines first all-time meeting against both UCR and HPU, and the third against ASU.
To visit the Utah State Invitational website CLICK HERE.
