Aug. 24, 2012

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Utah Valley University women's volleyball team began its 2012 season by defeating Cal State Northridge in four sets (19-25, 25-21, 25-18, 26-24) Friday afternoon at the Wildcat Classic in Tucson, Ariz.

The Wolverines will continue the Wildcat Classic by taking on the Evansville Purple Aces tonight at 5:30 p.m. (MDT) and will wrap up play by facing the Arizona Wildcats Saturday at 8:00 p.m. (MDT).

UVU junior Lindsay Morrell led the offense by posting a double-double with a career-high 17 kills and 10 digs, while Arizona native and fellow junior Brookelyn Hall added a double-double of her own for the Wolverines with a match-high 42 assists and 12 digs. Junior Patti Hatch led the back row with 14 digs and junior Katie Fritzler was second on the club in kills with eight.

After dropping the first set by six points, the Wolverines came out and looked determined in the second one as they took a 10-6 advantage after a kill from freshman Bailey Farris. The Matadors later pulled within one a couple of times but UVU managed to weather the storm as it went on to take the set, 25-21. Morrell led the Wolverines in the set with four kills, while sophomore McKenna Tait and freshmen Lauren Stringham and Farris each tallied three kills apiece.

The third set stayed close in the beginning as it saw six early ties but the Wolverines once again managed to pull ahead when Tait delivered one of her seven kills to give UVU a 14-10 advantage. The Wolverines built to their lead from there and took an eight-point advantage at set point after Morrell added one of her match-high 17 kills. Three points later UVU took the set 25-18 and a 2-1 lead.

Utah Valley held a five-point lead at 14-9 midway through the fourth set but the Matadors scored the next four points to pull within one. CSUN jumped ahead and later took a 21-17 lead after a Wolverine attack error. The Matadors then held a 24-20 set-point advantage but a kill from Farris sparked a six consecutive point rally in which UVU came from behind to take the match in four sets. Morrell and Fritzler also added kills during the impressive stretch by the Wolverines, while CSUN committed three large attack errors.

Cal State Northridge, a team that was picked to finish third in the Big West Preseason Poll, was led in the match by Natalie Allen and her double-double of 14 kills and 11 digs.