PROVO, Utah – Utah Valley falls to Boise State in final afternoon cap, (21-25, 25-27, 28-26, 14-25) despite an equal draw with the Broncos on the front line in kills, 52-56.
 
Utah Valley was off to a slow start against the Broncos of Boise State, finding themselves trailing 3-8 early in the first set. The Broncos defense proved to be too much for UVU's front line, sending three blocks back to UVU's side of the court. A screamer down the line from Tori Dorius, followed by an ace from Jasmine Niutupuivaha would lessen the gap between teams at 6-9. Boise State would immediately answer with an attack from the backline and an ace themselves to them put them at their largest lead of the match, 7-14. A massive assist from Jaysa Funk-Stratton to Kazna Tarawhiti in the back row would swing moment for the Wolverines, followed up by a stuff block from Makaila Jarema to bring UVU within four, 10-14. Despite the point difference, the number of kills between both teams would maintain fairly even at 14-11. UVU would reduce the difference from Jarema, adding three major blocks at the net, but would not be enough as the Wolverines still dropped the first set, 21-25.
 
In set two, Niutupuivaha lit up the Broncos back row with back-to-back kills and a pair of blocks, which gave Utah Valley their first lead of the match at 7-4. Niutupuivaha accounted for four hits on the UVU side. Kaili Downs also became a powerhouse at the net for UVU, taking care of four hits to keep the Wolverines in the lead at 11-10. UVU would give Boise State a run of points due to blocking and digging errors, allowing the Broncos back in the game with the lead at 13-16. Both teams battled play-for-play to an even draw of 24-24. An attack error on the Broncos would put the Wolverines on top at 25-24 but Boise State would follow it up with three kills of their own, making the final score 25-27.  
 
Set three is where the Wolverines would come back from trailing 13-16 to the Broncos in their first defeat on the weekend. Bailey Christensen put herself on the board early in the game with a trio of kills on the front row. Niutupuivaha came up big for the Wolverines throughout the set, sending everything back to Boise's side of the court, collecting three blocks in a 28-26 victory for Utah Valley.
 
In the final set of the day, UVU would quickly trail the Broncos, 6-13. Boise State would stay on top the remainder of the set, taking the match over UVU at 14-25.
 
Tarawhiti led the Wolverines with 18 kills on the day. Niutupuivaha, tabbed eight kills, while Christensen, Downs and Dorius all collected seven. Jarema had seven blocks at the net and five kills for a .286% hitting average while libero Seren Merrill accounted for 18 digs in the backrow and Jaysa Funk-Stratton with 12 to keep UVU in close contest against Boise State.
 
UVU will look to a single match-up against Idaho State, September 3 in Pocatello at 6 p.m. MT, followed by the Orem-hosted Wyndham Invitational, September 6-7 in Lockhart Arena.