OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University managed to overcome a 2-1 deficit as it came from behind to defeat UC Riverside in five sets on Saturday afternoon in the La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational (25-14, 24-26, 17-25, 25-18, 15-13).

Four players finished in double digits in kills for the Wolverines (4-9) and freshman Madison Wolford and junior Lauren Bakker led the way with 13 and 12 respective kills. The pair of middle blockers also both hit over .500 in the match as Bakker put up a .706 attack percentage while Wolford hit an even .500. Sophomores Nakisha Willden and Macky Treanor also recorded 11 and 10 respective kills.

"We showed great composure as we were able to turn things around in that fourth set," said head coach Sam Atoa. "We're working on being more disciplined and that's the challenge. We were fortunate that the ball bounced the way we wanted it to at the end and the girls did a great job of closing things out at the end."

With the Wolverines trailing UCR 6-5 early in the opening set, UVU pieced together a 4-0 run to take a 9-6 lead. Utah Valley later reeled off eight straight points to take a commanding 23-12 lead. UVU closed the set off a couple of point later on a block assist from Wolford and Treanor.

After dropping both the second and third sets, the Wolverines responded in the early stages of the fourth frame as they jumped out to a 10-1 lead. UCR cut the deficit to four, but that was as close as the Highlanders could get as the Wolverines took the set (25-18) to tie the match at 2-2.

UVU's momentum carried over into the final and decisive set as it took a quick 7-2 advantage. The Highlanders countered right back, however, by scoring five of the next six points to pull within one at 8-7. The set seesawed back and forth from there until the Wolverines managed to put it away by scoring the final three points of the match. Senior McKenna Tait drilled home the final point with an ace.

Tait also chipped in a match-high 19 digs while sophomore Kiahna Steiner added a career high eight kills and a .467 attack percentage. As a team, UVU out hit UCR .291 to .231.

Alex Gresham paced the Highlanders with 16 kills while Amanda Press added a double-double with 58 assists and 14 digs.

The Wolverines will close the La Quinta Inn & Suites Invitational on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Portland.

Following Saturday's nightcap, UVU will prepare for Western Athletic Conference play that it will begin next Saturday afternoon (Sept. 27) against Seattle U in the PE Building.