PHOENIX – Freshman Abby Jensen and sophomore Sierra Starley both recorded double-doubles and three Wolverines posted double figures in kills for Utah Valley University volleyball on Thursday night en route to a 3-1 win over Grand Canyon University at Antelope Gym in Phoenix (25-22, 27-29, 25-20, 25-20). The victory marks the fifth in a row for UVU and its eighth in its last nine matches.
 
The Wolverines improve to 13-10 on the season and remain in second place in the WAC standings with an 8-2 conference clip with the victory.
 
"It's nice to pick up another conference win on the road tonight, but it wasn't without its challenges," head coach Sam Atoa said. "Our passing struggled at times and we had far too many reception errors. However, I was pleased that the girls were able to come through when needed and overall they did a nice job of hitting the ball offensively as well as blocking defensively at the net."  
 
Jensen and Starley both notched their fourth double-doubles on the year, as Jensen put up 11 kills and 11 digs while Starley recorded a match-high 40 assists and 11 digs. Sophomore Lexi Thompson finished just one dig shy of a double-double herself, as she tallied a team-high 16 kills and nine digs. Fellow sophomore Madison Dennison was next with 12 kills, a .476 hitting percentage and six blocks, while senior Lauren Bakker and junior Kiahna Steiner both also had solid nights at the net for UVU by recording seven and six blocks, respectively.
 
The Antelopes (4-17, 2-6 WAC) pulled out to an early five-point lead in the opening frame, as they jumped out to a quick 8-3 advantage. Trailing 13-9 midway through the set, UVU made its move with a 5-1 run to tie the game at 14-all. With the frame later tied at 21-21, the Wolverines scored a trio of consecutive clutch points thanks to three straight GCU errors to take a 24-21 set-point advantage. UVU then finished off the first frame two points later on a Thompson kill.
 
GCU struck back in the second set by taking a 16-8 advantage following a couple of large runs. Still trailing by eight at 19-11, UVU managed to score 13 of the next 18 points to tie the frame up at 24-24. Steiner and Starley helped lead the spurt for the Wolverines by recording a trio of kills and a pair of aces, respectively. Both teams traded points from there until the Lopes managed to drive home back-to-back points to take the frame by a score of 29-27.
 
Utah Valley bounced back in the third set as it jumped out to an early 9-4 advantage. The Wolverines would manage to hold on to their lead from there, as they went to finish off the set by five points to take a 2-1 lead in the match. 
 
In a tightly contested fourth frame, UVU was the first to take command at 19-14 following a 6-1 spurt. The Lopes managed to cut the deficit to three, at 21-18, but that was as close as they would make it as the Wolverines struck back with three unanswered points of their own to put the set and the match away.
 
UVU recorded a season-high 15 team blocks in the contest, as it outblocked the Lopes 15-3. Utah Valley also managed to outhit GCU .280-.115 en route to the victory.
 
The Wolverines will continue their four-match road stretch at CSU Bakersfield on Saturday afternoon. UVU and the third-place Roadrunners (9-12, 7-2 WAC) will do battle at CSUB's Icardo Center at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT.