Match Notes  |  Live Video vs. UMKC  |  Live Stats vs. UMKC

OREM, Utah – Fresh off of a six-match homestand, the Utah Valley University volleyball team will head to the Midwest to continue Western Athletic Conference play against Missouri-Kansas City and Chicago State this weekend. Thursday's showdown with UMKC will begin at 6 p.m. MT/7 p.m. CT in Kansas City while Saturday's matinee against the Cougars will take place at 11 a.m. MT/noon CT in the Windy City.
 
Live video and live stats will be available for Thursday night's match by visiting UMKCKangaroos.com.
 
The Wolverines are 7-10 overall on the season and off to a 2-1 start in conference play after going 4-2 during their recent six-match homestand. UVU recorded five set wins over Portland, UC Riverside and Seattle U as well as a three-set sweep over Texas-Pan American during the home stretch. The Wolverines' lone losses while at home came to Idaho State and the defending WAC Champion New Mexico State Aggies.
 
In last Saturday's sweep over the Broncs, junior middle blocker Lauren Bakker led the way for UVU with eight kills, six blocks and an even .500 attack percentage. Sophomore outside hitter Kiahna Steiner too played well as she put up seven kills, four blocks and a .353 hitting percentage. As a team, UVU out hit UTPA .363 to .078 in the match. The Wolverines' also recorded 6.5 more blocks as well as six more service aces than the Broncs.
 
Also last week, UVU took the defending conference champion Aggies to five sets but NM State managed to pull the hard fought contest out by a score of 25-19, 25-27, 16-25, 25-15, 15-11. The Wolverines held a two sets to one advantage in the match but New Mexico State managed to take the final two sets to win the match. Despite the loss, Bakker once again paced the Wolverines with 14 kills, seven blocks and a .346 attack percentage.
 
Bakker leads the Wolverines on the season with a 2.71 kill per set average, a 1.18 block per set average and a .334 hitting percentage. Her attack percentage is good enough to lead the WAC while her block per set average currently ranks her fourth. Senior McKenna Tait too leads the league in service aces (0.55 aps) and ranks ninth nationally in the same category.
 
About Missouri-Kansas City
The Kangaroos will enter Thursday's match on a nine-match winning streak. UMKC is 13-3 on the season and currently in first place in the conference standings with a 2-0 WAC clip. Missouri-Kansas City has defeated North Dakota State, Bradley, Miami (Ohio), Southeast Missouri State, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Alabama State, Grand Canyon and Bakersfield during the streak and was picked to finish fourth in the WAC this season.
 
Jessica Hendin leads the 'Roos in kills with a 2.62 per set average while Emma Hagedorn paces the squad in blocks (1.26). Taryn Miller secures the back row for UMKC with WAC-best 5.91 dig per set average.
 
Thursday's meeting between the Wolverines and Kangaroos will be just the third all-time contest. UVU holds a 2-0 series advantage after winning both meetings last season.
 
About Chicago State
The Cougars are 6-11 overall on the season and off to an 0-3 start in conference play after falling to Grand Canyon twice and Bakersfield once. CSU has picked up its six wins in 2014 over North Carolina A&T, IU Northwest, Purdue North Central, Mount Mercy, Trinity International and UMass Lowell. Chicago State was picked to finish eighth in the WAC this year after going 0-16 in conference play in 2013.
 
Elli Woinowsky leads CSU in kills with a 2.65 per set average while her running mate Essence Jackson-Jones leads the way in both blocks (1.17) and hitting percentage (.247).
 
Saturday's match will mark the 15th all-time meeting between UVU and Chicago State. Utah Valley holds a perfect 14-0 series advantage over the Cougars.
 
Up Next for the Wolverines
UVU will return home for three matches next week. The Wolverines will begin the week with a Tuesday night showdown against in-state foe Weber State on Tuesday (Oct. 14), before hosting Grand Canyon on Thursday (Oct. 16) and Bakersfield on Saturday (Oct. 18).