OREM – Jaysa Funk Stratton led a balanced attack as Utah Valley swept Chicago State, 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-18) in Lockhart Arena. Funk Stratton set a career-high with five services as the Wolverines tied a season-high with eleven aces. UVU moves to 5-3 on the season, including 5-2 in WAC play. The Cougars fall to 0-1 on the year and 0-1 in conference play.
 
"It was a bit of a rough start but I'm proud of how the girls rebounded back and got back to our system," said Utah Valley head volleyball coach Sam Atoa. "You have to hand it to Chicago State who landed at 2 p.m. and they gave us some problems. I think we have to be prepared and embrace the opportunity to get back on the court and compete."

The Wolverines came out hot in the opening set, scoring the first five points en route to an early 7-1 lead. The Cougars countered with a 9-2 run to take a 10-9 advantage. After CSU extended its lead to 16-13, Tori Dorius and Kazna Tanuvasa each had a pair of kills as UVU went on a 7-0 surge to retake the lead, 20-16. Utah Valley was able to maintain its lead the rest of the way as the Wolverines took the first set, 25-23.
 
Both teams went back and forth to start the second set, playing to a 7-7 tie early on in the second set. A Kendra Nock kill sparked a 5-0 UVU run, with Funk Stratton serving up three aces during the run, to push its lead to 12-7. The Wolverines and Cougars alternated the next 14 points as UVU held onto a 20-14 lead. Utah Valley coasted from there to earn a win in the second set, 25-18, pushing its lead to 2-0.
 
UVU got out to an early two-point lead in the final set before five straight Wolverine errors gave CSU a 9-6 advantage. Utah Valley used a 4-1 run to tie the set back up at 10 points apiece. After a Bryton Bishop ace tied the game back up at 13-13, a Tanuvasa error gave Chicago State is final lead of the match, 14-13. UVU scored five-straight points to take control of the set and, after a quick 3-0 rally by the Cougars, the Wolverines scored the final four points of the set to finish the sweep with a 25-18 win in the set.
 
Tanuvasa led the Wolverines with 11 kills to go along with three digs. Dorius added eight kills and a pair of blocks while Kendra Nock chipped in seven kills and three blocks. Funk Stratton finished with a game-high 27 assists to go along with six digs and the five aces. Bishop led UVU with nine digs to go along with three aces.
 
The Wolverines face off with Chicago State in the rematch on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 5:00 p.m. MT in Lockhart Arena. The Wolverines then hit the road to take on WAC-newcomer and in-state rival Dixie State on Monday and Tuesday, March. 1-2, in St. George, Utah.