Oct. 26, 2011
UVU Match Notes vs. HBU and UTPA
OREM, Utah -- The Utah Valley women's volleyball team will return home for two key conference matches this week. Thursday one of the two teams that UVU is tied atop the conference standings will come to town in Houston Baptist for a 7 p.m. match, and Saturday the Wolverines will host Texas-Pan American at 1 p.m.
Live stats and live video for both matches can be found by visiting WolverineGreen.com.
UVU (17-7, 6-1 GWC), HBU and North Dakota are all tied atop the Great West standings with one-loss apiece and each team will play one another one more time before the regular season concludes and the Wolverines will wrap-up their season with a home contest against the Fighting Sioux on Nov. 11.
The Wolverines are coming off of two road victories at NJIT and Chicago State last week. UVU has also won seven of its last eight contests, with its lone loss coming at HBU a week and a half ago.
UVU senior middle blocker Sarah Clement was recently named the GWC Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after having 11 blocks in two matches last week and averaging 1.38 blocks per set. Clement and her teammate junior Erica Nish both are tied at the top of the GWC in blocks (105) and blocks per set (1.21). Clement also leads the conference in attack percentage as she is currently hitting .316.
Out of 327 NCAA Div. I teams, UVU is currently ranked 120th on the RichKern.com Regional Rankings (RKPI). As a team the Wolverines also currently ranked 18th in the nation in aces per set with an average of 1.64 and 29th in blocks per set (2.59).
About HBU
The Huskies are 18-6 overall on the year and 4-1 in conference play. HBU had last week off from GWC play and last played a non-conference match against Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 19. Houston Baptist's last conference outing was a 3-1 win over UVU in Houston on Oct. 15. The Huskies are led offensively by Heather Leaverton and her 251 kills and her 2.82 kill per set average.
All-time the Wolverines hold a 6-1 series advantage over HBU.
About UTPA
The Broncs enter the weekend with a 7-18 overall record and a 1-4 Great West clip. UTPA recently won two non-conference matches over Texas Southern and Huston-Tillotson before falling to New Mexico last Sunday. The Broncs lone victory came on Sept. 29, in a road win at Chicago State. UTPA is led offensively by Ijanae Holman and her team-high 171 kills and her 2.38 kill per set average.
The Wolverines hold a commanding 17-1 series advantage over the over the Broncs.
Next up for the Wolverines
UVU will step out of conference play and head to Boise, Idaho for its final road match of the season to take on Boise State Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. The Wolverines will then host in-state rival Utah State Thursday Nov. 3, at 7 p.m.
Promotions
Thursday's match with HBU will be the Pink with a Purpose game. Fans that wear pink to the match will get in for $1 and the first 300 fans will receive free t-shirts. All proceeds and donations raised from the pink game will benefit a UVU employee who is currently battling breast cancer.
Thursday's match will also be senior Sarah Clement's Hometown Hero Night. Fans from Clement's hometown of Lindon, Utah will get FREE admission to the game. Posters of Sarah will be handed out to the first 150 fans in attendance, and she will sign autographs following the game.
Saturday's match with UTPA will the Halloween game. All fans that wear a Halloween costume will receive $1 admission.
