OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University volleyball team fell to in-state foe Weber State in non-conference action in four sets on Tuesday evening at the PE Building (22-25, 28-26, 18-25, 17-25).
 
"Weber State outplayed us, especially there in those last two sets," said head coach Sam Atoa. "There are a few things that we are not too far off that will help us be able to win those crucial points. We just have to be disciplined and continue to work on the things that we need improve on. I'm confident that we'll learn from this and get better."
 
Despite the loss, freshman Madison Wolford and sophomore Kiahna Steiner led the Wolverines (8-12) with eight kills apiece. Sophomore Nakisha Willden was next with seven while junior Lauren Bakker paced the team at the net with six blocks. Senior McKenna Tait too had a nice night as she recorded a match-high 10 digs and three aces.
 
With UVU holding a 16-14 advantage in the opening set, the Wildcats (6-14) reeled off four straight points to take an 18-16 lead. The Wolverines battled back and managed to briefly overcome the deficit, at 22-21, but WSU scored the final four points of the frame to take the set by a score of 25-22. The tightly contested opening set featured 15 ties and eight lead changes.
 
In another close set, Weber State took a 24-22 set-point advantage in the second frame after scoring three consecutive points. The Wolverines struck back with three unanswered points of their own to take a 25-24 lead. The set seesawed back and forth from there until Steiner drilled home a kill and Wolford and senior Kalani Norris followed it up with a block assist to give UVU a 28-26 game-two victory.
 
WSU capitalized on a few Wolverine miscues early in the third set as it jumped out to a 5-0 advantage. UVU quickly overcame the deficit, tying it up at 9-all, but Weber State once again pulled ahead late as it scored nine of the final 11 points to take the set by seven points.
 
The Wildcats' momentum carried over to the fourth frame as they took another quick 5-0 lead. With WSU later holding a 13-9 advantage, UVU picked up back-to-back block assists to pull within two at 13-11, but that's as close as the Wolverines would get as Weber State went on to take the set by a score of 25-17.
 
Audrey Biggs paced the Wildcats with a match-high 22 kills while Amanda Varley chipped in 13.
 
The Wolverines will return to conference play on Thursday when Grand Canyon comes to town for a 7 p.m. contest. UVU will then close its three-match homestand on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Bakersfield.