SEATTLE – Utah Valley University took the opening set over Seattle University on Saturday afternoon in the Emerald City in Western Athletic Conference play but it wasn't enough as the Redhawks went on to take the next three to win the match in four sets (25-22, 9-25, 16-25, 21-25).
 
The loss marks UVU third straight, as it falls to 9-15 on the season and 4-4 in conference play, while Seattle U improves to 9-12 overall and 5-3 in the WAC with the victory.
 
"I felt like we made some great adjustments and did what we needed to do in that first set, and then really struggled with our passing game after that," said head coach Sam Atoa. "Seattle played well. They served the ball tough and we just couldn't make it happen for us today." 
 
Despite the loss, senior Kalani Norris and sophomore Kiahna Steiner both topped double figures in kills for the Wolverines. Norris led the way with 11 while Steiner added 10 as well as a team-high five blocks.
 
UVU managed to overcome an early five-point deficit in the opening set as it reeled off five straight points of its own to tie the frame at 10-10. The Wolverines later used a 4-0 run to take a 21-16 advantage. Norris led the UVU spurt with an ace and a kill. Seattle U later cut the deficit to one, at 22-21, but Utah Valley answered back by scoring three of the next four points to take the opening set by a score of 25-22.
 
With the Redhawks holding a slight 8-7 lead early in the second game, SU took command of the set by scoring 17 of the next 19 points to take the frame by 16 points.
 
Seattle U continued to hold the upper hand in the third set as it jumped out to a 13-8 advantage in the frame. SU added to its lead from there as it went on to take a two sets to one advantage after a 25-16 third-set victory.
 
The fourth set was more of the same as the momentum remained with the home Redhawks. With SU holding a 21-12 advantage, UVU got things going late with a 4-0 run to trail by just five at 21-16. The Redhawks later took a 24-17 match-point advantage and UVU answered back again with four consecutive points but it wasn't enough as SU eventually finished off the set at 25-21 on a kill from Matea Mamic.  
 
Martina Samadan paced the Redhawks with 15 kills, nine blocks and five aces while Mamic chipped in 13 kills and Kerry Lane added a match-high 49 assists.
 
The Wolverines will continue conference play on the road next week as they'll head to Texas and New Mexico to face Texas-Pan American on Thursday and New Mexico State next Saturday. Following the pair of road contests, UVU will return home to welcome Chicago State to town on Nov 6.
 
"There are obviously a few things that we need to improve on and get better at. And that's the challenge for us right now," added Atoa. "We hope to be able to do that before we leave on next week's trip so we can build some momentum during the last half of the conference season."