STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The Wolverines dropped a four-set decision in a rematch with WAC-newcomer, Tarleton, 3-1 (16-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-15) in Stephenville, Texas in Wisdom Volleyball Gym. With the loss, UVU falls to 4-3 on the season, including 4-2 in WAC play as the Texans improve to 5-7 on the year and 3-5 in conference play.
 
After falling behind 6-4 early in the opening set, the Wolverines rattled off three straight points to take a 7-6 lead. The Texans surged ahead with a 16-5 run, aided by seven UVU errors, to take a 22-12 advantage. Sadie Hamson got a couple of kills during a 4-1 Utah Valley run but it wasn't enough as TSU took the first set, 25-16.
 
The Wolverines battled to a 7-7 tie before the Texans used a 9-3 run to take control of the set, 16-10. Utah Valley cut the deficit down to the three on four occasions but were unable to close the gap. After a kill by Kristen Bell got the lead down to 21-18, three-straight UVU errors doomed the Wolverines as Tarleton won the second set, 25-18, to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
 
Both teams went back and forth to start of the third set as TSU took an early 5-4 lead. UVU scored four-straight points in part of an 8-2 run, giving the Wolverines a 12-7 lead. TSU countered with four-straight points of its own to get within one, 12-11. Utah Valley and Tarleton exchanged points over the next seven points as UVU maintained a 16-14 lead. Kazna Tanuvasa hammered home a kill to extend the lead to 18-15 before the Texans scored three straight to tie the set up at 18 apiece. Both teams went back and forth, alternating scores over the next eight points before a couple of kills and an assist by Tanuvasa gave the Wolverines a 25-22 win in the set.
 
Tarleton came out hot in the fourth set, staking a 6-2 lead early in the set. UVU rallied with three-straight points but TSU countered right back with three straight of its own to keep a 9-5 lead. After a couple big blocks by the Wolverines to cut the deficit to two, the Texans used an 11-3 surge to pull away, 20-10, in the deciding set. UVU was unable to challenge from there as both teams alternated the final 10 points as Tarleton took the final set, 25-15, to win the match, 3-1.
 
Tanuvasa was the lone Wolverine in double kills, finishing with 17 kills and nine digs. Jaysa Funk Stratton led UVU with 24 assists and Abbie Miller added 17 assists and six digs. Seren Jardine chipped in 12 digs and Bryton Bishop finished with 10 digs. Utah Valley committed season-highs of 28 attack errors and 44 total errors for the match to go along with a season-low 0.114 hitting percentage.
 
The Wolverines return home to host WAC-foe Chicago State in Lockhart Arena on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 22-23. Monday's match is set for 6:00 p.m. MT and Tuesday's contest is set to start at 12:00 p.m. MT. Utah Valley will then hit the road to take on in-state rival and WAC-newcomer Dixie State on Monday and Tuesday, March 1-2 in St. George.