HONOLULU, Hawaii – UVU's volleyball squad capped the 2019 Hawaii Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Volleyball Challenge against first-time opponent West Virginia. The Wolverines dropped the contest to the Mountaineers in three (15-25, 25-27, 17-25).
 
West Virginia jumped out to a 1-5 lead over the Wolverines in the first as Mountaineer Kristin Lux tallied five kills in the first 11 points for WVU. Kazna Tarawhiti and Bailey Christensen added three kills apiece, but Utah Valley came up short in the first set, 15-25.
 
Set two proved to be a battle for the Wolverines and the Mountaineers when UVU captured a 6-3 lead over WVU. Tarawhiti, Christensen and Jasmine Niutupuivaha held the momentum for Utah Valley through the set till the Wolverines and the Mountaineers found themselves tied at 23-23. A point-for-point battle found West Virginia just on top at 25-27.
 
In the final set for UVU, back-to-back kills from Sadie Hamson and Christensen cut a four point deficit for the Wolverines to even out the score at 8-8, but West Virginia would put together a few three-point runs to remain on top through the remainder of the third, 17-25.
 
Seren Merrill led the UVU backrow with 18 digs, teammate Tarawhiti tallied 10 kills along with four blocks, followed by Christensen with seven kills and Niutupuivaha with six.

2019 Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Volleyball Challenge
All-tournament Team
Kazna Tarawhiti, Utah Valley
Alexa Hasting, West Virginia
Savvy Smo, UCLA
Mac May, UCLA
Amber Igiede, Hawai'i
Brooke Van Sickle, Hawai'i
 
Most Valuable Player
Hanna Helvig, Hawai'i
 
UVU will return back to Utah for a matchup at in-state competitor Utah State, September 18 before launching a run of home events against Weber State, September 19, followed by the opening of WAC conference play against New Mexico State, September 26.