PROVO, Utah – In the opening match of the BYU Invitational on Friday afternoon, the Utah Valley University volleyball team recorded its first victory of the season by sweeping UMBC (28-26, 25-18, 25-22). Senior Kalani Norris led the Wolverines (1-4) with 10 kills while junior Lauren Bakker chipped in nine of her own and added five blocks.

"It feels good to win. It's nice being close to home and having the opportunity to compete here in Provo this weekend," said head coach Sam Atoa. "It felt good to get a few other girls on the court today and I was pleased with how they played."

Trailing 15-9 midway through the opening set, the Wolverines got things going as they reeled off a 5-0 run to pull within one, at 15-14. The set remained close from there as it took extra points to declare a winner. With the Retrievers holding a 26-25 set-point advantage, UVU battled back by delivering three straight kills to take the opener by a score of 28-26. Senior Kalani Norris drove home the first kill of the spurt while sophomore Nakisha Willden buried home the final two.

Norris paced the Wolverines with seven of her match-high 10 kills coming in the opening frame.

In set number two, UVU used a decisive run down the stretch to take the set by seven points. With the score all knotted up at 18-18, the Wolverines scored seven unanswered points to win the set by a score of 25-18. Junior Lauren Bakker sparked the run with three kills and a block.

Leading just 15-13 in the third set, the Wolverines reeled off four straight points to take a 19-13 advantage. The Retrievers fought back late, cutting the deficit to two, at 23-21, but freshman Lexi Thompson and senior Cassie Wahlin helped UVU finish off the match in straight sets as each drilled home crucial kills. 

Behind Norris and Bakker's solid outings, seniors McKenna Tait, Cassie Wahlin and freshman Sierra Starley too played well. Tait led the group with a match-high 20 digs and four aces, while Wahlin added seven kills and four blocks and Starley chipped in 29 assists and six digs.

Krystal Mlemchukwu led the Retrievers, who were picked to win the America East Conference, with seven kills. 

The Wolverines will conclude the tournament on Saturday with a pair of matches against top-10 teams at BYU's Smith Fieldhouse. UVU will face No. 5 Washington at 10 a.m. before closing the tournament against No. 10 BYU at 7 p.m. The matches will mark Utah Valley's third and fourth contests of the young season against ranked foes as it opened the year against No. 22 Kansas and No. 23 Creighton last weekend.

"We are excited to be here and we're looking forward to Saturday's challenge," added Atoa. "I don't know that it gets any tougher than facing two top-10 teams in one day. Both Washington and BYU are playing solid volleyball and our great programs. This is where we want to be, and it's important for us to go out there and believe in our abilities to compete against these teams tomorrow."