SEATTLE – The Utah Valley University volleyball team entered into a three-team tie for second place in the WAC volleyball standings following a 3-0 setback to Seattle University in the Emerald City on Saturday afternoon (24-26, 13-25, 15-25).
 
"We were humbled today. You've got to give Seattle credit, they played very well," head coach Sam Atoa said. "We just couldn't put it together. We had a few opportunities in the first set, but overall Seattle was the better team. We'll have to regroup and put it together at home next week."
 
Junior Kiahna Steiner led the Wolverines (13-12, 8-4 WAC) in the contest with eight kills, while sophomore Madison Dennison finished right behind her with seven on a 7-for-10 hitting performance (.700 attack percentage). Senior Lauren Bakker was next with six kills and four blocks as she'll now enter next Thursday's (Nov. 12) home match against UT Rio Grande Valley just two kills shy of 1,000 for her career.
 
The Wolverines had their best chance to win in the opening set, as it managed to overcome an early eight-point deficit to tie the frame at 17-all. Bakker and Steiner led the UVU surge by each recording a trio of kills apiece during the run. The set then went back and forth from there until the Redhawks (16-9, 8-4 WAC) managed to break a 24-24 tie with back-to-back points to take the opener by a score of 26-24.
 
With UVU trailing by just one early in the second game, Seattle U made its move by scoring 13 of the next 19 points to take a 19-11 advantage. The Wolverines could muster just two points down the stretch, as SU went on to take a two sets to none advantage with a 25-13 second-set victory.
 
The home Redhawks continued their stellar play in the third game, opening up 14-7 advantage over UVU. The Wolverines later reeled off a 4-0 spurt of their own to pull within five, at 17-12, but that was as close as they would get as SU went on to take the third and final set by 10 points.
 
Three players finished in double figures in kills to lead the Redhawks. Matea Mamic and Jelena Vujcin both finished with a match-high 13, while Martina Samadan added 12.
 
With the loss, UVU is now tied for second in the conference standings with Seattle and CSU Bakersfield as all three teams sit at 8-4 with two matches apiece left to play.
 
The contest marked the end to a four-match road stretch for Utah Valley and its final regular-season road contest of the season. UVU will now return home to close its 2015 regular campaign against UTRGV and the first-place and undefeated New Mexico State Aggies (12-0 WAC) next weekend. The Wolverines will first take on the Vaqueros on Thursday, Nov. 12 before welcoming the Aggies to the PE Building for Senior Day next Saturday, Nov. 14.