Utah Valley vs. Weber State
Orem, Utah  |  PE Building
Tuesday, Nov. 1  |  7 p.m. MT
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WOLVERINES AND WILDCATS SET FOR TUESDAY CLASH IN NEWLY RENOVATED PE BUILDING
OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University volleyball team will step out of conference play to host in-state rival Weber State on Tuesday evening in UVU's first match of the season in its newly renovated home gym. First serve for the non-conference contest is set for 7 p.m. in Utah Valley's PE Building. 
 
"It's been a long time coming, but we're really excited about what this place looks like. We're still trying to iron out a few things but it feels great to be back in our gym. There's nothing like home," head UVU coach Sam Atoa said. "We're looking forward to Tuesday's match against Weber. It's always fun when we get together and it should be another good one."
 
The Wolverines will enter Tuesday's match with an 11-13 overall record and in third place in the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 7-4 league mark. UVU went 1-1 on a Midwest road swing last week with a 3-1 victory over Chicago State and a four-set setback over UMKC. The loss to the Kangaroos marked just Utah Valley's second setback in its past eight matches.
 
In Saturday's weekend finale at Chicago State, UVU came from behind to top Cougars. After CSU took the first set, 25-17, and held a late lead in the second, the Wolverines responded with a 9-2 clutch run in the second game to take the set, 25-23, and tie the match at 1-1. UVU then completed the comeback by winning both the third and fourth games by identical 25-20 scores.
 
Junior outside hitter Lexi Thompson paced the Wolverines in the match with a team-high 14 kills and a .294 hitting percentage. She also added her second double-double of the week by adding 10 digs, as well as tying her career-high in blocks with six. Senior outside hitter Kiahna Vernon was next with 12 kills and seven blocks, while junior middle blocker Madison Dennison put up 10 kills and a match-high eight blocks.
 
Thompson paces UVU offensively on the season with 253 kills and a 2.98 per set average, while Dennison tops the team in hitting with a .280 clip and blocking with 142 total blocks and a 1.48 blocks per set average. Dennison's blocking tallies are also good enough to lead the WAC and rank her fifth and 10th, respectively, nationally.
 
As a team, Utah Valley also leads the WAC and ranks fourth nationally in total blocks with 285.0 and sixth with a 2.97 blocks per set average.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
Renovations to the PE Building include a reconfigured arena, new seating and a new court. UVU went 6-5 on the year in matches that were contested in the UCCU Center and a perfect 1-0 in a contest that was held at nearby Pleasant Grove High School. The Wolverines will enter Tuesday's contest with a 107-44 all-time record in the PE Building (at the Division I level).
 
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
The Wildcats will come to Orem with a 13-8 overall record and a 4-8 mark in Big Sky Conference play. WSU has dropped five straight matches, including home setbacks to fellow Big Sky foes Idaho State, North Dakota and Northern Colorado. The Wildcats were picked to finish ninth in the Big Sky this season after going 6-22 overall in 2015 and 2-14 in league play.
 
Amanda Varley leads WSU with a 3.28 kill per set average, while Megan Thompson tops the team with a .352 hitting clip and a 1.67 blocks per set average. Thompson's 1.67 blocking average is also good enough to rank her second in the nation in that category. As a team, the Wildcats are also one spot ahead of the Wolverines in blocks per set average, as they sit in fifth with a 3.06 per set average.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tuesday's contest will mark the 18th all-time meeting between the Wolverines and Wildcats on the volleyball court. UVU will enter play with a 10-7 series advantage after sweeping Weber State in Ogden a season ago. UVU has also won six of the last seven meetings and holds a 6-1 all-time record against WSU at home.
 
UP NEXT FOR UVU
Utah Valley will return to conference play this weekend when it heads to the Emerald City for its final road match of the regular season on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT at Seattle U. Following Saturday's contest, the Wolverines will return to Orem for a pair of key conference contests against Grand Canyon (Nov. 10) and CSU Bakersfield (Nov. 12) next weekend.