OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University volleyball team managed to overcome a late fifth-set deficit en route to claiming its school record sixth five-set victory of the season in 3-2 win over in-state foe Weber State on Tuesday in Orem (23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 17-15). The contest also marked UVU's program-best ninth five-set match of the season and its debut match in the newly renovated PE Building.
 
"This has been the theme of our year, to take it five and we're learning some tough lessons. I'm proud of the girls and their resilience. We almost let it sleep away but we had some key defensive moves and Lexi (Thompson) did a nice job of putting that last swing away," head UVU coach Sam Atoa said. "This was as great battle and I'm very pleased with how the girls played tonight."   
 
With the contest all deadlocked at two sets apiece, the Wolverines (12-13, 7-4 WAC) pulled out to a 6-4 lead following three straight points. Weber State (13-9, 4-8 Big Sky) later responded with a late 6-2 run to take a late 13-11 advantage. UVU bounced back with a Madison Dennison and Sierra Starley block assist but back struck WSU with an Amanda Varley kill to take a 14-12 match-point lead. The Wolverines then managed to stave off match point with a Starley and Brighton Taylor block assist followed by a Wildcat attack error to tie the score at 14-all. With the score still tied at 15-15, UVU made its move with timely kills from Izzie Hinton and Lexi Thompson to complete the comeback with a 17-15 fifth-set victory.
 
Four Wolverines topped double figures in kills in the contest, led by Thompson's match-high 16. Dennison, Hinton and Kiahna Vernon were next by each notching 12 apiece, while Dennison also added a match-best eight blocks. Starley and Nakisha Willden too had big outings, as Starley recorded a double-double with 48 assists and 13 digs while Willden led the way from the back row with a match-high 26 digs.
 
In the opening set, the Wolverines jumped out to a quick 7-4 lead following an early 6-1 run. WSU answered right back, however, with a 5-0 spurt of its own to take a 9-8 lead. With Weber State later holding to a slim 19-18 lead, the Wildcats extended their lead to four at 23-19 following a 4-1 run. UVU responded right back with a trio of consecutive points to pull within one at 23-22, but Weber State bounced back by scoring two of the next three points to take the opening set by a score of 25-23.  
 
In a tightly contested second set that featured 10 ties and four lead changes, Weber State took a 19-17 lead following a 3-1 run. The Wolverines quickly erased the deficit by reeling off seven clutch unanswered points to take a 24-19 set-point lead.  Hinton led the rally with a pair of kills and a block. Following back-to-back WSU points, Hinton helped UVU cap the set with her fifth kill of the frame to tie the match at 1-1.
 
UVU's momentum carried over into the early stages of the third set, as it opened up a quick 4-0 lead. Weber State answered right back but UVU later responded with a 7-1 run to take a 15-8 advantage. Dennison led the spurt with a block and a pair of kills. The Wildcats later used a 4-1 run to pull within four, at 17-13, but UVU answered back with back-to-back Hinton kills to take a 19-13 lead. The Wolverines held onto their lead from there, as they went on to take the third set by a 25-19 and a 2-1 lead in the match. Dennison paced Utah Valley in the set with four kills and three blocks.
 
The Wildcats bounced back early in the fourth set by jumping out to an early 8-4 lead. WSU later pushed its lead to six at 17-11, but back countered UVU by scoring five of the next seven points to pull within three at 19-16. Weber State once again answered to push its lead back to five at 24-19, but back struck Utah Valley with four crucial points to pull within one at 24-23. The Wildcats once again answered with a Varley kill, however, to send the match to a decisive fifth game.  
 
As a team, UVU outblocked WSU, 15.0 to 12.0, on the night. The Wolverines also outhit the Wildcats, .228 to .192.
 
The victory resulted in UVU's seventh in its last nine matches, while the loss marked Weber State's sixth in a row.
 
The contest marked Utah Valley's first of the season in UVU's newly renovated PE Building. Renovations to the gym include a reconfigured arena, new seating and a new court.
 
"It was great to be back. It was nice to be able to get this win in front of our alumni and fans here on our home court," added Atoa. "It's always nice to win, but tonight was a special one."
 
The Wolverines will return to Western Athletic Conference play in the Emerald City on Saturday afternoon at Seattle U. The conference contest will begin at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT and will mark UVU's final regular season road match of the year.