DENTON, Texas – Despite dropping the second set to Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon at the Mean Green Classic in Denton, the Utah Valley University volleyball bounced back to defeat the Wildcats (0-8) in four sets (25-9, 24-26, 26-24, 25-17). The win marked UVU's (3-7) second of the tournament as it previously swept Jackson State on Friday evening.
Sophomore Macky Treanor led UVU in the contest with a season-high 15 kills and a solid .273 attack percentage while junior Lauren Bakker finished one block shy of a double-double with 11 kills and a match-high nine blocks.
UVU jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead in the opening set as scored the first eight points of the contest. Senior McKenna Tait sparked the rally with three service aces. The Wolverines maintained their advantage in the frame from there as they cruised to a 25-9 set-one victory.
The Wildcats countered back, however, by taking the tightly contested second frame by a score of 26-24 to even the match score 1-1. Stephanie Schoelman helped ACU secure the set with a couple of late crucial kills.
UVU responded by taking the third set as it managed to hold off a late Abilene Christian push in the frame. With the Wolverines holding a 24-20 set-point advantage, ACU reeled off four straight points to tie the frame at 24-all. The senior Tait then once again got UVU going with a clutch service ace and the Wolverines put the set away the very next point on a block assist from senior Cassie Wahlin and freshman McKenzie Schenk.
The fourth set remained tight early on but UVU used a 9-1 run to take a 14-6 lead. The Wolverines held their lead from there as they went on to seal the victory by taking the fourth set by a score of 25-17.
Tait finished with a season-high five aces and a match-high 15 digs while Wahlin, a native of nearby Keller, Texas, finished with seven blocks and five kills. Freshman Sierra Starley too played well for UVU as she chipped in a match-best 32 assists as well as six digs, four kills and three blocks.
Schoelman and Jennifer Loerch paced the Wildcats with nine kills apiece.
The Mean Green Classic will conclude Saturday at 7 p.m. CT/6 p.m. MT when the Wolverines and host North Texas Mean Green do battle. The tournament title will be on the line in the match, as both teams will enter the contest unbeaten on the weekend. Following the contest, UVU will return home to host the La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational next weekend.
