DAVIS, Calif. – The Utah Valley University volleyball team had its opening weekend of the 2018 season come to a close with a tightly contested five-set setback to Northern Arizona (31-29, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 16-18) on Saturday morning at the UC Davis Aggie Invitational. 
 
With the setback, the Wolverines finished the opening tournament with a 1-2 showing after picking up an opening-season victory over Holy Cross as well as suffering setbacks to the host UC Davis Aggies and NAU (1-1). 
 
Despite dropping the five-set thriller on Saturday, Preseason All-WAC selection Kristen Allred had a big match for the Wolverines in which she recorded a career-high 19 kills as well as adding eight digs, three service aces and two blocks. After the conclusion of the tournament, Allred also earned Aggie Invitational All-Tournament Team honors after tallying 37 kills (3.55 kps), 21 digs (1.91 dps), three blocks and three service aces for the weekend. Senior Alexis Davies and freshman Kaili Downs were next for UVU by tallying 10 kills apiece, while junior Makaila Jarema added seven kills and a team-high seven blocks. Sophomore Seren Merrill too had a nice match from the back row by finishing one dig shy of the career-best with 26, junior Madi Wardle and freshman BriAnne Mortensen both added a double-doubles as Wardle put up 30 assists and 11 digs and Mortensen finished with 13 assists and 12 digs. 

"It was a heartbreaker. You always want to win those two-point games in the fifth set, and we had our chances," head coach Sam Atoa said. "I was proud of our girls for really battling in that fifth set. I wish it would have bounced our way, but I was proud of our effort."  
 
In a must win fourth set, Utah Valley took an early 10-7 lead after scoring three out of four points. Later holding to an 18-14 advantage following a Davies and Jarema block assist, the Lumberjacks managed to score three unanswered points to pull within a point at 18-17. UVU then answered with back-to-back points on kills from Davies and Downs to make it 20-17. Ahead 20-18, the Wolverines then managed to reel off a clutch 5-1 run down the stretch to take the fourth set, 25-19, and tie the contest at 2-2. Jarema and Allred were key for the Wolverines late in the set, as Jarema drove home a pair of kills and Allred added a kill of her own as well as a service ace. 
 
Utah Valley fell behind early in the decisive fifth set, as it trailed the Lumberjacks by six points, at 10-4. On consecutive kills from Davies, Allred and Guimont, as well as back-to-back service aces from the freshman Abbie Vincent and another kill from Guimont, UVU responded to score six clutch unanswered points, however, to tie the score at 10-all. Both sides traded points from there, until Northern Arizona managed to break a 12-12 tie with back-to-back points to take a 14-12 match-point advantage. Utah Valley didn't give up from there, however, as it struck back with three straight key points to take a 15-14 lead. Allred was again clutch for the Wolverines with a kill and an ace during the stretch. NAU then answered with a pair of consecutive points to again take a 16-15 match-point advantage, but back struck UVU thanks to a Northern Arizona attack error to tie the score at 16-all. The Lumberjacks again threatened to put the match away up 17-16, and a final UVU attack error would eventually give NAU the epic fifth set and the hard earned victory.   
 
Reigning first team All-Big Sky selection Kaylie Jorgenson led Northern Arizona in the contest with a match-high 20 kills. She also tallied a double-double by chipping in 22 digs. 
 
In a tightly contested opening set, NAU, who was picked to finish second in the Big Sky Conference this season, was the first to pull ahead at 22-18 following a 4-0 spurt. UVU responded by pounding home back-to-back points to make it 22-20. After a NAU point, the Wolverines then reeled off a clutch 4-0 spurt to take a 24-23 advantage. Allred and Davies led the Utah Valley run with a kill apiece. The set continued from there well past 25, as each team seemed to match one another point-for-point. Deadlocked at 28-all, freshman Kazna Tarawhiti then drilled home a kill to give the Wolverines a 29-28 advantage. Following a Lumberjack point, Tarawhiti then answered for UVU with another kill and the duo of junior Jasmine Niutupuivaha and Wardle combined to follow up with block assist to give the Wolverines the 31-29 opening-set victory. Allred led UVU in the set with five first-set kills while Downs followed with four.
 
With Utah Valley trailing by just a point at 7-6 following an Allred kill, Northern Arizona managed to reel off a 5-1 run to take a 12-7 lead. UVU then responded with a 4-1 spurt of its own to pull within two at 13-11. Allred and Jarema both had kills during the stretch for the Wolverines. With NAU later holding to a 16-13 lead, the Lumberjacks pieced together a decisive 8-2 run to take a 24-15 lead. UVU fought back with three late points, but it wasn't enough as NAU went to take the second set, 25-18, and tie the match at 1-1. 
 
The Wolverines responded in the early stages of the third set, as they jumped out to an 11-7 advantage following an Davies kill and an Allred, Jarema and Davies block assist. NAU then managed to turn things around with a 9-2 spurt to take a 16-13 lead. UVU then quickly responded to pull within one, at 16-15, and later regained the lead at 21-19 after reeling off five unanswered points. Tarawhiti drove home an ace during the stretch, while Allred and freshman Kenzie Guimont both added kills. The Lumberjacks again answered back, however, with a trio of consecutive points to regain the lead at 22-21. After UVU again tied things up at 22-22 following setting miscue from NAU, Northern Arizona responded with back-to-back-to-back points to put the third set away, 25-22, and take a 2-1 lead in the match.
 
The Wolverines will now return to Orem for their 2018 home opener on Tuesday, Aug. 28 against Idaho State. The midweek matchup will take place at 6 p.m. at UVU's Lockhart Arena. Following the contest, Utah Valley will again hit the road to take part in the Oregon Classic next weekend (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) in Eugene, Oregon. There, the Wolverines will take on the host Oregon Ducks, Arkansas Pine Bluff and Long Beach State. 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

MVP - Northern Arizona: Abby Akin (Junior, Middle Blocker)
Northern Arizona: Abby Stomp (Junior, Setter)
Northern Arizona: Heaven Harris (Sophomore, Opposite)
UC Davis: Malia Bolko (Senior, Libero)
UC Davis: Emily Allen (Senior, Outside Hitter)
Nevada: Sam Hayward (Sophomore, Outside Hitter)
Nevada: Jamila Minor (Junior, Outside Hitter)
Utah Valley: Kristen Allred (Sophomore, Outside Hitter)
Holy Cross: Regan Wright (Freshman, Outside Hitter)