STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Wolverines defeated WAC-newcomer, Tarleton, 3-1 (25-17, 25-22, 12-25, 25-20) in Stephenville, Texas in the first-ever matchup between the two teams. With the win, UVU improves to 4-2 on the season, including 4-1 in WAC play as the Texans fall to 4-7 on the year and 2-5 in conference play.

"Our team fights with a lot of grit," said Utah Valley head volleyball coach Sam Atoa. "We feel that each night that teams are going to have their best game against us, so we have to come prepared each night. We learn so much in losses and tonight we learned a ton about ourselves after the third set. I love coaching these players because they never quit. That is what will set us apart and we are looking forward to another battle tomorrow."
 
Utah Valley took advantage of some early Tarleton errors, getting out to a 6-2 lead early in the opening set. TSU fought back to tie the set at 10 apiece before the Wolverines went on a 10-3 run, led by Tori Dorius and Kendra Nock, to take a 20-13 advantage. UVU was able to hold off the Texans the rest of the way to take the first set, 25-17.
 
UVU raced out to a 6-3 lead in the second set behind a pair of aces by Bryton Bishop and Seren Jardine. After both teams went back and forth, Kazna Tanuvasa sparked an 8-3 run to give the Wolverines a 17-9 lead. A 6-1 Texan run cut the lead down to 18-15 before a pair of Tanuvasa kills jump started a 6-2 spurt to get the Wolverines to set point. A late, 5-0 run by the Texans cut the lead to two before a Nock kill ended the set, 25-22.
 
The Wolverines got off to a good start in the third set, taking a 7-5 lead early. The Texans rallied, using a 13-1 run to take control of the set, 18-8. UVU was unable to challenge from there as Tarleton took the set, 25-12.
 
Both teams exchanged 3-0 runs as they played to a 5-5 tie early on in the fourth set. Sadie Hamson led a 5-2 run to give the Wolverines a 10-7 advantage before went on a 6-1 spurt to lead 13-11. After kills by Tanuvasa and Nock, the Texans score three straight points to extend its lead to 16-13. A block by Nock and Tanuvasa opened up a 7-1 run by the Wolverines, giving UVU a 20-17 edge. TSU was unable to rally from there as Utah Valley took the deciding set, 25-20.
 
Tanuvasa led the Wolverines with 13 kills to go along with three blocks. Dorius added 10 kills and Nock chipped in eight kills to go along with four blocks. Hamson finished with five kills and team-leading six blocks and Jardine added 21 digs. Jaysa Funk Stratton chipped in 22 assists and eight digs while Abbie Miller 17 assists and a pair of aces.
 
The Wolverines continue in Stephenville, Texas with a rematch against Tarleton on Saturday, Feb. 20. The match is set for 10:00 a.m. MT. Utah Valley will then return home to host Chicago State on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 22-23. Monday's match is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. MT and Tuesday's contest will start at 12:00 p.m. MT.