Sept. 18, 2010
LOGAN, Utah - Utah Valley University's women's volleyball team had its six match win streak snapped at the Utah State Invitational Saturday in Logan when Loyola Marymount defeated them in four sets (25-20, 13-25, 16-25, 22-25). Senior OH Kayli Doxey and junior OH Chelsey Heaps were named to the All-Tournament Team as the duo helped the Wolverines (8-6) place second at the invitational with a 2-1 record.
"I felt that we did some very good things in the first set and that we had some momentum from Friday going into it," UVU head coach Sam Atoa said. "Then things kind of took a turn for the worse as we stopped competing, which was unfortunate. We had an opportunity in the fourth set but we weren't the better team in the match."
In set number one, the Wolverines continued their hot play as of late as they began to work a good sized late lead at 21-15 on a block by Heaps and senior Dani Robison. UVU maintained its lead and eventually won the first set by five on a kill from Doxey. Junior Jaicee Kuresa led the Wolverines offensively in the set as she connected on four kills and two blocks.
LMU (6-6) answered in immediately in the second set as they took an early 8-2 lead. UVU cut the deficit to 10-7 on a kill from sophomore Erica Nish but that was as close as the Wolverines would get the rest of the set, as the Lions would go on to win it and tie the match score at 1-1.
In the third set, Loyola Marymount's momentum continued over as they took an early lead. The Wolverines would get within two however at 12-10 following a block by Heaps and Robison but that was as close as they would get in the third set as they Lions won it by nine.
In a must-win fourth set for UVU, the Lions worked an early four-point lead at 11-7. The Wolverines responded quickly as they tied it at 14-all following a kill from Heaps. From there, the scoring went back-and-forth until LMU worked a three-point advantage at 19-16.
With the Lions on top 22-18 in the fourth set, UVU answered by scoring the next two points to get within 22-20. LMU countered and put the match away as it won the final set by three, 25-22.
Doxey led UVU offensively in the match with 12 kills, while Heaps finished right behind her with nine. Kuresa also had a big day as she posted nine kills and five blocks. Freshman Brookelyn Campbell finished with a team-high 38 assists.
"I'm proud of the girls and for the week that we've had," Atoa added. "It was a lot of matches to play in only three days and the girls played well. We had a great win Friday night (against Utah State) and accomplished a lot this week."
UVU will try to start another winning streak Tuesday in Cedar City, when it takes on Southern Utah in the Wolverines lone match of the week.
2010 Utah State Invitational Team Results
1. Loyola Marymount (2-1)
2. Utah Valley (2-1)
3. Utah State (2-1)
4. UC Riverside (0-3)
All-Tournament Team
Felicia Arriola, Loyola Marymount - MVP
Olivia Bailey, Loyola Marymount
Kayli Doxey, Utah Valley
Chelsey Heaps, Utah Valley
Liz McArthur, Utah State
Christine Morrill, Utah State
Katie Meyers, UC Riverside
