LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Kazna Tanuvasa powered Utah Valley to a dominating sweep WAC foe, #6 Stephen F. Austin, 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-12) to send the Wolverines to the WAC Championship. UVU advances to its third championship match in the last four seasons with a chance to repeat as Western Athletic Conference champions.
 
With the win, UVU improves to 15-12 on the season as the Ladyjacks finish its season 18-9.

"Tonight was a great battle against a very good SFA team," said Utah Valley head volleyball coach Sam Atoa. "We didn't play very well the first set but managed to win. I was proud of what they did the rest of the match both on offense and defense. We served very well and played great defense."
 
Both teams alternated the first eight points of the opening set before SFA used a 6-1 run to open up a 12-8 lead. Tori Dorius and Tanuvasa led Utah Valley on a 6-2 run to tie the set up at 14-14. After a pair of points by the Ladyjacks, Sadie Hamson and Tanuvasa led a 5-1 run to pull the Wolverines ahead, 19-17. Kristen Bell gave UVU a 21-19 lead but SFA scored three of the next four points to tie the set back up at 22-22. Dorius put Utah Valley back in front and Tanuvasa hit home the final kill, giving the Wolverines a 25-23 win in the first set.
 
Utah Valley scored the first three points of the second set, but four consecutive errors by the Wolverines led to a 5-0 run by the Ladyjacks. Tanuvsa and Hamson sparked a 7-1 run to regain the lead, 10-6. Both teams went back and forth until a 4-1 run by Stephen F. Austin trimmed the lead down to 17-15. Bell came alive to lead a 7-1 to give UVU a 24-16 advantage before drilling the final kill of the set, giving the Wolverines the set, 25-19.
 
The Ladyjacks got off to a quick start in the third set, taking an early 4-1 lead. Kendra Nock and Bryton Bishop ignited an 8-2 surge, putting UVU up 10-6. After alternating the next six points, Nock and Kalea Kennedy sparked an 8-0, extending the Wolverine lead to 20-9. Stephen F. Austin was unable to challenge from there as an ace by Natalie Palmer and the final kill by Tanvuasa gave Utah Valley the third set, 25-12, to complete the sweep.
 
Tanuvasa led the Wolverines with 13 kills to go along with four digs. Bell added 10 kills and four digs while Nock chipped in a team-high six blocks. Bishop led with 10 digs to go along with five assists and a pair of aces while Kennedy tied a career-high with four blocks. Abbie Miller finished with a team-high 16 assists to go along with eight digs and Palmer chipped in 11 assists and three digs. 

"We are excited to play in the championship match," said Atoa. "It will be another tough challenge but we are ready for it. It's what we have been preparing for all season!"

The Wolverines now take on #5 Grand Canyon in the WAC Volleyball Championship match on Saturday, Nov. 20. The match is set for 7:00 p.m. MT. With a win, Utah Valley would earn its second consecutive NCAA Volleyball Tournament bid.