PULLMAN, Wash. – Utah Valley University recorded its second sweep of the day on Friday at the WSU Cougar Challenge as it cruised past Morehead State three sets to none (25-13, 25-21, 25-17).
 
Three Wolverines (4-5) topped double digits in kills en route to the victory, and as a team UVU outhit the Eagles (2-7), .341 to .165.   
 
"It was a great day today. Being able to be consistent in both matches was huge for us," head coach Sam Atoa said. "The girls really capitalized on some things that we've struggled with and did a nice job. Overall I feel like we're doing some good things, especially as our freshmen have really been stepping up and performing well for us as of late."
 
Lauren Bakker, Lexi Thompson and Abby Jensen all finished with 10 kills apiece in the match, and Bakker led they way by posting a season-best .643 attack percentage. Bakker also added a match-high three blocks, while Sierra Starley dished out a match-best 25 assists and Lindsey Tagge recorded a season-high five service aces.
 
Leading 8-4 early in the opening set, UVU pieced together a 7-0 run to extend its advantage to 15-4. The Wolverines held onto their large lead from there as they went on to pull out the first frame by 12 points.
 
MSU bounced back in the second set as it jumped out to a 12-9 lead. Utah Valley countered back, however, by scoring four of the next five points to take its first lead of the frame at 14-13. A couple of points later, the Wolverines reeled off a 5-0 spurt to take a 20-15 advantage. The Eagles later pulled to within a point, at 21-20, but UVU answered by scoring four of the final five points to put the set away at 25-21.
 
UVU once again fell behind early in the third set, as Morehead State took a quick five-point advantage at 11-6. The Wolverines struck right back once again, however, with a 12-2 run to take an 18-13 lead of their own. The freshman Jensen helped Utah Valley maintain its lead and put the match away in straight sets with a pair of clutch late kills.
 
The win marked the second of the day for UVU as it previously swept Ball State (25-22, 25-22, 25-23) in the Cougar Challenge opener on Friday morning. Thompson and Madison Dennison paced the Wolverines against BSU with 11 and 10 respective kills.
 
Utah Valley will go for the Cougar Challenge tournament title on Saturday evening when it concludes its final preseason tournament of 2015 against the host Washington State Cougars. Both the Wolverines and the Pac-12 Cougars will enter the contest unbeaten on the weekend.
 
"It was great to be able to pick up back-to-back wins today," added Atoa, "and we're looking forward to a tough battle against Washington State on their home floor on Saturday."