CEDAR CITY, Utah – Utah Valley University went on a late clutch 7-2 run in the fifth and final set against Southern Utah University on Tuesday night at Centrum Arena in Cedar City but it wasn't enough as the Thunderbirds took the contest by a score of 3-2 (22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 28-26, 12-15).
 
With the loss, the Wolverines drop to 9-14 on the season and 3-3 in five-set matches while the T-Birds improve to 12-8 with the win.
 
"I felt like we did some good things after we turned the corner following that second set," said head coach Sam Atoa. "The girls really focused and executed better. I thought we had a good chance in that fifth set, but we kind of fell behind by a few too many points there at the end."
 
After dropping the first two sets, UVU bounced back in the third as it took a quick 7-2 lead. Freshman Lexi Thompson and junior Lauren Bakker capped the run with back-to-back kills. The Wolverines held its lead until SUU reeled off a 7-1 run to take an 18-16 advantage. The set then went back and forth from there until UVU managed to put the frame away, at 25-23, following a service ace from freshman Sierra Starley and a kill from senior Kalani Norris.
 
The Wolverines once again took the upper hand in the fourth set as they took a 16-11 advantage following a 5-1 run. SUU answered right back with a 6-1 run of its own to tie the score at 17-17. With the T-Birds later holding a 24-21 match-point advantage, UVU struck back with three clutch kills to tie the score at 24-24. The frame went back and forth from there until the Wolverines managed to force a decisive fifth set following a kill from Bakker and a solo block from junior Megan Hunt.
 
SUU had the hot hand early in the fifth set as it took a commanding 12-5 advantage after a 5-0 spurt. UVU answered back with a clutch 7-2 run of its own to pull within two at 14-12, but that was as close as the Wolverines would get as the T-Birds put the match away the very next point on a kill from Ann Clappier.    
 
Despite the loss, Bakker and sophomore Macky Treanor paced the Wolverines with 15 kills apiece. Treanor added her second double-double in as many matches with a career-high 16 digs while senior Jen Hardman chipped in her first double-double in a Wolverine uniform with 28 assists and 10 digs. Norris added nine kills while Thompson recorded a season-high six kills off the bench.
 
Madi Forsythe led the Thunderbirds with a match-high 19 kills while Annie Stradling added 17.
 
SUU got off to a strong start on its home court as it took a 15-9 advantage in the opening set. Trailing 20-16 late in the set, UVU pieced together a 5-1 run to tie the score at 21-all. The T-Birds countered, however, with four of the next five points to take the first set by a score of 25-22.
 
The second set remained tight until Southern Utah managed to reel off five straight points to take a 16-12 lead. Utah Valley fought back late in the frame, pulling to within two at 23-21, but that was as close as the Wolverines would get as the T-Birds took a two sets to none advantage with a 25-21 second-set victory.
 
The Wolverines will return to WAC play this weekend when they travel to Seattle, Washington, to face Seattle U. The contest will take place on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. PT/1 p.m. MT at SU's Connolly Center.