FARGO, N.D. – Behind 14 kills from junior Macky Fifita and a double-double of 10 kills and 17 digs from freshman Abby Jensen the Utah Valley University volleyball team swept past the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee three sets to none (25-23, 25-20, 25-21) in the NDSU Baymont Inn & Suites Classic opener on Friday afternoon in Fargo.
 
Senior Lauren Bakker and sophomore Madison Dennison too played well for the Wolverines (2-3) in the contest as they combined for 14 kills and 10 blocks. Sophomore Sierra Starley also had a solid match, as she dished out a match-high 27 assists and a career-best five blocks.
 
"The girls really executed well today and it was nice to see. Even when we made some mistakes they stayed focused and did what they needed to do," head coach Sam Atoa said. "Overall the entire team did some good things, both offensively and defensively, and I was real proud of their effort." 
 
In a tightly contested opening set that featured 12 ties and four lead changes, the Wolverines took a late 23-21 advantage following Jensen kill and a Panther (2-3) attack error. UWM, who was picked to finish second in the Horizon League this season, battled back by scoring the next two points to tie the score at 23-all, but back-to-back block assists from Bakker & Fifita and Dennison & Starley helped the Wolverines put the frame by a score of 25-23.
 
Trailing 7-5 early in the second set, UVU pieced together a 10-1 run to take 15-8 advantage. The Panthers later pulled to within three, at 18-15, but the Wolverines scored seven of the final 12 points to take the set, 25-20, and take a two sets to none advantage.
 
Milwaukee took the upper hand in the early stages of the third set by jumping out to an 8-5 advantage. The Wolverines answered right back, however, with four consecutive points to take a 9-8 lead of their own. With UWM later leading by a point, at 13-12, UVU reeled off eight straight points to put the set and the match away.
 
As a team, the Wolverines outhit the Panthers .289 to .121 in the contest. UVU also outblocked UWM, 11-4.
 
The Wolverines will resume action at the NDSU Baymont Inn & Suites Classic on Saturday at noon MT/1 p.m. CT against the host North Dakota State Bison. UVU will then close the tournament later that afternoon against Towson (3 p.m. MT/4 p.m. CT).
 
"It will be tough for us on Saturday with back-to-back matches against two good teams," Atoa added. "But we're up for the challenge and we'll look to sustain that throughout both matches in this hot and humid environment."