Utah Valley at Grand Canyon
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015  |  7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. Arizona Time
Phoenix, Ariz.   |   Antelope Gym
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Utah Valley at CSU Bakersfield
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015  |  2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT
Bakersfield, Calif.   |   Icardo Center
Live Stats 
 

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UTAH VALLEY VOLLEYBALL RETURNS TO LEAGUE PLAY AT GRAND CANYON, CSU BAKERSFIELD
OREM, Utah – Fresh off of a 3-0 sweep over in-state foe Weber State in its non-conference finale on Monday night, the Utah Valley University volleyball team will return to Western Athletic Conference play at Grand Canyon and CSU Bakersfield this weekend. First serve for the Wolverines and Antelopes is set for 7 p.m. MT/6 p.m. Arizona Time on Thursday night in Phoenix, while UVU and CSUB will close the weekend with a matinee match on Halloween at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT.
 
The contests will mark the second and third of a current four-match road stretch for UVU, which it opened at Weber State on Monday.
 
The Wolverines (12-10, 7-2 WAC) will enter the weekend having won four straight matches and seven of their last eight. UVU's lone loss during the stretch came at the first-place and undefeated New Mexico State Aggies in four sets on Oct. 15. Since then, Utah Valley has recorded wins over UT Rio Grande Valley (3-1), Missouri-Kansas City (3-1), Chicago State (3-0) and Weber State (3-0).
 
In Monday's victory over the Wildcats, UVU managed to overcome a 24-20 set-point deficit in the third set to sweep WSU. Freshman Abby Jensen paced the Wolverine offense in the contest with a match-high 16 kills and a solid .400 attack percentage. Sophomore Madison Dennison was next for UVU with nine kills, a .643 hitting clip and four blocks. Fellow sophomore Sierra Starley too played well by recording a match-best 41 assists and a career-high five kills.
 
After the stellar outing about Weber State, the freshman Jensen now leads the Wolverines in kills with 209 and a 2.79 per set average. Senior Lauren Bakker paces the team in blocks (1.23 per set average) and hitting (.334), and her blocks per set average is good enough to currently rank her second in the conference. 
 
With a 7-2 conference record, the Wolverines remain in second place in the WAC standings with five matches to play. NM State leads the league with an unblemished 8-0 mark while Bakersfield is just a half a game back of UVU for third at 6-2.
 
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
GCU will enter Thursday's match with a 4-16 overall record and a 2-6 conference clip. The Lopes have won two of their last four matches, however, with a four-set victory over UTRGV at home and a three-set sweep over Chicago State in the Windy City. Grand Canyon was picked to finish sixth in the league this season but will be ineligible to compete at the WAC Tournament, as it is still transitioning from Division II to Division I athletics.
 
Natalie Tardy paces the Lopes in kills with an even 3.00 per set average while Jordyn Sanchez is next with a 2.67 clip.
 
Thursday's matchup will be the sixth all-time meeting between UVU and GCU. The Wolverines hold a perfect 5-0 series advantage after defeating the Lopes in four sets in Orem earlier this month (Oct. 3).
 
CSU Bakersfield will enter the weekend with an 8-12 record and in third place in the WAC standings at 6-2. The Roadrunners will host the fourth-place Seattle U Redhawks on Thursday before welcoming the Wolverines to the Icardo Center on Saturday. CSUB will enter the weekend having won three straight matches and five of its last six. The 'Runners, who won the WAC Tournament title a year ago, were picked to finish fourth in the conference this season.
 
Kelsee Sawyer leads the 'Runners offensively with a 3.72 kills per set average and a .278 attack percentage. Her kills per set average is good enough to rank her second in the WAC.
 
Saturday's contest will mark the 15th all-time meeting between UVU and CSUB. The Wolverines hold an 8-6 series advantage after taking care of business against the 'Runners at home in four sets earlier this month (Oct. 1).
 
UP NEXT FOR UVU
The Wolverines will close their four-match road stretch at Seattle U on Saturday, Nov. 7. UVU will then close its regular season at home the following week against UT Rio Grande Valley (Nov. 12) and NM State (Nov. 14).