OREM – The Wolverines will host Seattle U, in Lockhart Arena, to begin its 2021 spring season. UVU and the Redhawks will face off on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 25-26, in the WAC-opener for both squads. Monday's match is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. MT and Tuesday's contest will start at noon MT.
 
Junior outside hitter Kazna Tanuvasa and senior libero Seren Jardine were named to the preseason All-WAC team. Tanuvasa was nominated for the second-straight season after being selected as a first-team All-WAC performer in each of her first two seasons with the Wolverines. Tanuvasa led UVU in four categories a season ago, including leading the WAC in kills. Jardine earned the selection for the first time after moving into the top 10 in WAC history in career digs. The four-year starter led the Wolverines in digs for the third-straight season and enters this year third all-time in school history.
 
Junior outside hitter Kazna Tanuvasa enters the season with the sixth-most kills (973) in school history. With four more kills, Tanuvasa will pass Madison Dennison (976) for fifth all-time. The Orem-native is 52 kills away from passing Lauren Bakker (1025) for fourth in the record books. Tanuvasa also ranks fifth in total attacks (2647), needing 156 more attacks to pass Lexi Thompson (2802) for fourth. Tanuvasa also ranks sixth in career points (1092.5) and needs just 215 points to enter the top five. Senior libero Seren Jardine enters the season third all-time in UVU history with 1509 digs. Jardine needs 223 digs to move into second place, passing Allyce Jones (1731) and needs just 239 digs to become the school's all-time leader in digs for a career. Jardine also ranks seventh in WAC history in digs, needing 217 more to climb up to number six in conference history. 
 
Utah Valley was recently picked to finish fifth in the Western Athletic Conference. The Wolverines tied for fifth in Western Athletic Conference play a season ago with a 7-9 record and went 11-19 overall. UVU extended its streak of advancing to at least the semifinals of the WAC tournament, reaching the semifinals for the fourth straight season.
 
Seattle U went 13-18 overall a season ago and 4-12 in WAC action. SU was picked to finish tied for sixth in the WAC this season and are led by preseason All-WAC nominees senior libero Tijana Milojevic and junior defensive specialist and libero Eve Kerschenbaum. Milojevic led the Redhawks in digs with 491, ranking in the third in the WAC. Kerschenbaum finished third in the WAC with 401 kills.
 
The Wolverines hold an 11-6 record in the series having won the last four matchups and seven of the last eight meetings. The last time these two met, UVU swept the Redhawks, 3-0, at home in Lockhart Arena on Oct. 19, 2019. The Wolverines finished off the season sweep, winning the matchup on the road in Seattle, 3-1, on Nov. 19, 2019. The last time Seattle U defeated the Wolverines was in Orem on Oct. 21, 2017, in a five-set thriller, 3-2. 
 
Coming off a trip to the WAC tournament semifinals, the Wolverines return two starters, including All-WAC performer Kazna Tanuvasa, and libero Seren Jardine. In all, UVU returns 10 letterwinners, including regulars Jaysa Funk Stratton and Kaili Downs, while welcoming nine new players to the roster.
 
Utah Valley then welcomes instate rival, BYU, to Lockhart Arena on Thursday, Feb. 4, at 6:00 p.m. MT. The matchup will be broadcasted on the WAC Digital Network. Following the matchup with the Cougars, the Wolverines are next slated to travel to Stephenville, Texas, to take on WAC-newcomer, Tarleton State, on Feb. 15-16.