UVU Match Notes
OREM, Utah – After playing its first 11 matches away from Orem, the Utah Valley University volleyball team will begin its 2014 home schedule this weekend when it welcomes Idaho State, Portland and UC Riverside to town for the annual La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational. The Wolverines will take on ISU on Friday at 7 p.m., UCR Saturday at noon and UP Saturday at 7 p.m.
All three matches will take place in the PE Building as well as three more neutral contests that will be played at 4:30 p.m. on Friday as well as 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Admission for the neutral matches as well as the UVU vs. UCR Saturday afternoon contest will be free of charge while the two 7 p.m. matches will be normal pricing ($5 for adults, $2 for youth and free for students with an active student ID).
"We've been on the road quite a bit so far this season so we're looking forward to playing in our gym and in front of our fans this weekend," head coach Sam Atoa said. "We're excited to compete at home and we're anticipating a good tournament."
The Wolverines, who will open a six-match homestand on Friday, will enter the weekend off of a second-place showing at the Mean Green Classic after going 2-1 last week. UVU picked up wins over Jackson State (3-0) and Abilene Christian (3-1) before falling to host North Texas in the tournament title match (1-3). Overall, the Wolverines are 3-8 on the year but four of their losses have come to nationally ranked opponents.
Senior libero McKenna Tait and sophomore outside hitter Macky Treanor led UVU at the Mean Green Classic last weekend as they were both named to the all-tournament team. Tait paced the Wolverines from the back row with 40 digs (3.64 dps) and 11 aces (1.0 aps) while Treanor led UVU at the net with 32 kills, a 2.91 kill per set average and a .241 attack percentage.
On the season, junior middle blocker Lauren Bakker paces the Wolverines with a 2.90 kill per set average, a .275 hitting percentage and a 1.20 block per set average. Treanor is next in kills (2.67) while Tait leads the way in both digs (4.56) and aces (0.58).
Last year, UVU went 1-2 at the La Quinta Inn & Suites Invite with a sweep over North Dakota State and a pair of losses to Arizona State and No. 24 Wichita State.
About Idaho State
The Bengals are 3-7 on the season and are coming off of a three-set loss to No. 12 BYU in their home opener on Tuesday night. ISU holds wins over St. Mary's, UAB and Robert Morris on the 2014 campaign and won the Big Sky Conference a year ago.
Tressa Lyman paces ISU in kills with a 3.11 per set average while Sommer Reeder leads the Bengals in blocks (0.80).
Friday's home opener will mark the 12th all-time meeting between the two squads. UVU holds a slight 6-5 series advantage but the Bengals have won the last two contests.
About UC Riverside
The Highlanders are off to a 2-7 start this season with wins over Maryland-Eastern Shore and Savannah State. UCR picked up both of its victories at the SUU Tournament two weeks ago prior to going winless at the Lumberjack Classic in Flagstaff, Arizona, last week. UC Riverside was projected to finish ninth in the Big West Conference this season.
Ashley Cox and her 2.45 kill per set average leads the way for the Highlanders offensively, while Megan Reza leads the way defensively with block per set average of 0.84.
Saturday's meeting between the Wolverines and Highlanders will mark the fourth all-time contest. UVU holds a 3-0 series advantage.
About Portland
The Pilots are 4-4 on the year and will enter the La Quinta Inn & Suites Invite off of a 1-2 outing at the Idaho Nike Invitational last weekend. There, UP defeated Eastern Washington before falling to Missouri and Idaho. Portland also holds wins over Abilene Christian, Baylor and San Jose State and was selected to finish 10th in the West Coast Conference.
Emily Liger leads the Pilots in kills and attack percentage with receptive averages of 4.90 and .317, while Katie Sullivan is tops in blocks (0.76).
Saturday evening's match will mark the third all-time meeting between UVU and UP. Portland will enter the contest with a 2-0 series advantage.
Up Next for the Wolverines
This weekend's tournament will mark UVU's final tune-up prior to beginning conference play next weekend. The Wolverines will open their second season of play in the Western Athletic Conference next Saturday (Sept. 27) against Seattle U at 1 p.m. in the PE Building.
