LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Utah Valley is set to square off with WAC newcomer #6 Stephen F. Austin in the WAC Volleyball Tournament semifinals on Friday, Nov. 19. The match is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. MT in the Pan American Center and will be broadcasted on ESPN+. UVU will be playing in the WAC tournamnent semifinals for the sixth-straight season, and will be look for its second-straight trip to the WAC championship match and its third trip in the last four seasons. This marks the second matchup between Stephen F. Austin and Utah Valley on the volleyball court, with UVU holding a 0-1 record. The Wolverines dropped the only matchup being SFA and Utah Valley, 3-1, in Phoenix, Ariz. on Oct. 22.
Stephen F. Austin is from Nacogdoches, Texas, and calls the Western Athletic Conference home. SFA is 18-8 this season, including an 8-5 record in WAC play. The Ladyjacks went 23-6 last season, including 11-1 in Southland conference play, before coming over to the WAC.
Strong defense and a balanced attack led Utah Valley to a thrilling, five-set upset of host #2 New Mexico State, 3-2 (22-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-21, 15-12) in the opening round of the WAC Volleyball Tournament. With the win, the Wolverines improve to 14-12 on the season, advancing to the WAC tournament semifinals for the sixth-consecutive year. Tanuvasa tallied 11 kills and seven digs as she passed Camie Manwill for second all-time in career points in school history.
Utah Valley senior outside hitter Kazna Tanuvasa has been named to the the All-WAC First Team, league officials announced on Wednesday. Tanuvasa becomes the first Wolverine to be named a first team all- conference performer in four-consecutive seasons. The All-Conference honors are voted on by the WAC's head coaches. Freshman outside hitter Jules Fink was nominated to the WAC All-Freshman team.
The Wolverines currently rank #11 in the nation in blocks/set assists as a team with 2.68 blocks per set.432. Utah Valley also ranks in the top 15 in the country in both total blocks (265.0) and blocks assists (432) as a team. UVU leads the WAC in each of those categories. Sadie Hamson and Kendra Nock lead the Wolverines while ranking first and second in the WAC in blocks/set. Nock also leads the WAC in total blocks.
Senior outside hitter Kazna Tanuvasa is currently second in UVU history in career kills (1563), needing 38 to pass Kayli Doxey for the most all-time. Tanuvasa also ranks third in career attacks (4091), third in career points (1752), and 10th in solo blocks. Senior outside hitter Kristen Bell currently ranks seventh in career points (1214.5), sixth in kills (1017), fourth in career attacks (3208), sixth in solo blocks (26), and eighth in aces (80). Abbie Miller now currently ranks eighth in career assists with 873 assists.
