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OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University dropped its first five-set contest of the season on Thursday night to defending Western Athletic Conference Champion New Mexico State at the PE Building in Orem (19-25, 27-25, 25-16, 15-25, 11-15).
 
Despite the loss, junior Lauren Bakker paced the Wolverines (6-10, 1-1 WAC) with 14 kills, seven blocks and a .346 attack percentage, while sophomore Kiahna Steiner added 10 kills and a career-high seven blocks of her own. Seniors Cassie Wahlin and Kalani Norris as well as sophomore Macky Treanor all chipped in nine kills apiece in the contest.
 
After dropping the opening set to the first-place Aggies (9-5, 3-0 WAC), the Wolverines struck back early in the second frame by taking a quick 6-2 lead following Bakker and Steiner block assist. The Aggies answered right back, however, as the set remained tight from there. With UVU's back against the wall late in the frame, trailing 25-24, the Wolverines came through with three straight clutch points to take the set by a score of 27-25. The sophomore Steiner led the crucial run with a block and a kill.  
 
UVU continued to hold the upper hand in the third set as it jumped out to an 8-2 lead thanks to consecutive blocks from Steiner and Bakker along with a pair of Bakker kills. The Aggies could get no closer than five the rest of the frame as the Wolverines went on to take the set by nine points (25-16).
 
NM State was the first to get things going in the fourth frame as it took 17-9 lead following a 7-0 run. The Aggies went on to take the set, 25-15, to setup a decisive fifth set.
 
The fifth set seesawed back and forth until NMSU took an 11-9 lead following an ace from Bradley Nash. UVU cut the deficit to one on a couple of occasions but the Wolverines couldn't manage to get over the hump as the Aggies held on to take the final frame by a score of 15-11.
 
Despite the defeat, senior McKenna Tait too played well for Utah Valley with a match-high 21 digs and three aces.
 
Nash led NM State with 15 kills and 12 digs while Gwen Murphy added 13 kills of her own.
 
The contest marked UVU's first loss in four straight five-set affairs on the season. It also marked the Pink for a Purpose match for the Wolverines.  
 
UVU will conclude its six-match homestand on Saturday afternoon against Texas-Pan American. The conference clash will begin at 1 p.m. in the PE Building.