OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley University volleyball team snapped a five-match losing skid with a 3-0 sweep over Chicago State in its Western Athletic Conference home opener on Thursday night at the UCCU Center (25-13, 25-14, 25-8).
 
"I was very pleased with the girls' effort and the way that they were able to execute both offensively and defensively. This is something that we're going to have to keep sustaining. If we can do that, then we will be in a good spot," UVU head coach Sam Atoa said.
 
Juniors Madison Dennison and Lexi Thompson led the way for the Wolverines (5-11, 1-2 WAC) with nine kills apiece in the match. Dennison also added nine blocks, a .571 attack percentage and two service aces, while Thompson chipped in five blocks of her own and a .450 hitting clip. Fellow junior Sierra Starley too had a nice match for UVU with a match-high 21 assists, eight digs, five blocks and three kills.
 
As a team, UVU outhit CSU (2-14, 0-2 WAC), .337 to -.065, in the contest and outblocked the Cougars, 15.0 to 2.0. The 15.0 team blocks ties a program record for the most blocks in a three-set match in school history.
 
"Somehow we're doing something right with our team blocking. For us to block that many balls in three sets is pretty impressive," Atoa added. "It was just an overall good effort tonight by everybody," Atoa added.
 
The Wolverines were the first to get things going in the opening set, as they jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead. Thompson paced the rally with a pair of kills and a block. After back-to-back Cougar points, UVU struck back with a 7-0 run to extend its early advantage to 12-2. CSU later pulled to within seven at 16-9, but back countered Utah Valley with a 6-1 run to extend its lead to 12 at 22-10. The Wolverines then put the set away a couple of points later, 25-13) on a Lindsey Tagge ace to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Thompson paced the Wolverines in the opening set with six kills and a .545 attack percentage, as UVU outhit CSU, .310 to -.034, in the game.
 
Chicago State bounced back early in the second set, as the Cougars and Wolverines found themselves all knotted up at 4-4. UVU quickly got things going, however, thanks to an 11-3 run to take a 15-7 advantage. Following a late 5-0 spurt, Utah Valley then stretched its lead to as many as 13, at 23-10, but back countered CSU with four unanswered points of its own to make it a 23-14 score. UVU then put the set away two points later following a CSU attack error and an Alexis Davies and Brighton Taylor block assist. Taylor led UVU in the set with three kills and three blocks.
 
Following the intermission break, UVU continued where it left off by erupting out to a 15-3 advantage in the third set. Dennison led the spurt with two service aces, two kills and a block. With UVU later holding to a 17-6 lead, the Wolverines managed to reel off a late 8-2 run to put the set and the match away in straight sets. Senior Kelcee Munk paced UVU in the final game with four kills, three assists, two digs and a block.
 
With the victory, the Wolverines improve to a perfect 19-0 all-time record against Chicago State.
 
The Wolverines will continue their conference-opening homestand against UMKC on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the UCCU Center. Following Saturday's contest, the Wolverines will remain home to welcome fellow WAC foe Seattle U to town on Saturday, Oct. 8. That match will be contested at Pleasant Grove High School in nearby Pleasant Grove due to a scheduling conflict at the UCCU Center.