Utah Valley vs. CSU Bakersfield
Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015   |   7:00 p.m. MT
Orem, Utah   |   PE Building
Live Video   |   Live Stats   |   UVU Match Notes   

Utah Valley vs. Grand Canyon
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015   |   1:00 p.m. MT
Orem, Utah   |   PE Building
Live Video   |   Live Stats   
 

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UVU SET TO HOST A PAIR OF WAC MATCHES THIS WEEKEND
OREM, Utah – After opening Western Athletic Conference play on the road last weekend, the Utah Valley University volleyball team will return home to host CSU Bakersfield and Grand Canyon at the PE Building this weekend. The matches will begin a three-match conference homestand for the Wolverines that will conclude on Oct. 10 against Seattle U.
 
The first of this weekend's contests will take place on Thursday at 7 p.m. when CSU Bakersfield comes to town. The Wolverines will then welcome GCU to the PE Building on Saturday for a 1'oclock matinee. Live video and live stats will be available for both matches by visiting WolverineGreen.com.
 
UVU will enter the weekend with a 5-9 overall record and a 1-1 clip in conference play after splitting its first two league matches of the season on the road last week. The Wolverines swept past Chicago State in their WAC opener on Sept. 24 (25-20, 25-18, 25-21), before dropping a tightly contested five-set battle at the defending conference champion Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos on Sept. 26 (22-25, 25-23, 25-20, 17-25, 12-15). Utah Valley held a two sets to one advantage after three games at UMKC, but couldn't manage to put the 'Roos away as the home Kangaroos came back to defeat UVU in five.
 
Senior middle blocker Lauren Bakker led the way for the Wolverines last week as she averaged 3.25 kills and 1.62 blocks per set. She also tallied a .392 hitting percentage in the two conference matches. Sophomore outside hitter Lexi Thompson was next with an average of 2.75 kills and 1.12 blocks. Thompson also recorded her first collegiate double-double during last Saturday's setback to UMKC with 12 kills and 12 digs.
 
Bakker leads UVU and the WAC in blocks on the season with a 1.32 per set average and she also ranks sixth in the league in hitting (.314). Junior outside hitter Macky Fifita is top on the team in kills with a 2.93 per set average.
 
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
Bakersfield will enter Thursday's contest with a 3-10 overall record and a 1-0 start to conference play after picking up a five-set victory over Grand Canyon in Phoenix last weekend. CSUB has played all 13 of its matches away from home, as it will start the 2015 season on a 15-match road stretch. The Roadrunners won the WAC Tournament on their home court in Bakersfield last season and were picked to finish fourth in the league this year.
 
Kelsee Sawyer leads the 'Runners in kills and ranks third with an average of 3.41 per set. She is also tops on the team in attack percentage with a .269 clip.
 
Thursday's meeting will mark the 14th all-time contest between UVU and CSUB. The Wolverines will enter play with a slight 7-6 series advantage and a 5-3 all-time mark against the 'Runners in Orem.
 
GCU will enter the week with a 2-11 record and an 0-1 clip in WAC play after falling to CSUB in its conference opener last weekend. The Antelopes will take on Seattle U in the Emerald City on Thursday prior to traveling to Orem to face UVU on Saturday. Grand Canyon was picked to finish sixth in the WAC this season after placing sixth in the conference standings last season.
 
Natalie Tardy paces the Lopes in kills with a 3.23 per set average.
 
UVU will enter Saturday's meeting against GCU with a 4-0 all-time series advantage after winning a pair of conference matches over the Lopes in each of the past two seasons.
 
UP NEXT FOR UVU
The Wolverines will conclude their longest homestand of the season next Saturday, Oct. 10 when the first-place Seattle U Redhawks come to town. First serve between UVU and SU is slated for 1 p.m.