OREM – Utah Valley set a season-high with 17 total blocks to finish of the season sweep of Chicago State, 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-21) in Lockhart Arena. Kendra Nock led seven Wolverines with multiple blocks to give UVU its second-consecutive sweep of CSU in as many days. With the win, UVU improves to 6-3 on the season, including 6-2 in WAC play. With the loss, the Cougars fall to 0-2 on the year and 0-2 in conference play.
 
"I was really proud of the girls with how they learned from mistakes, especially playing these guys who we knew nothing about," said Utah Valley head volleyball coach Sam Atoa. "Any time you play a team after sweeping them the first game, it's tough to come back with the right mindset. We had some moments where we made some mistakes in our offensive execution we were able to settle down and take control."

The Wolverines got off to a fast start in the opening set, taking five of the first six points of the match. After CSU trimmed the lead down to 9-7, UVU ripped off a 9-2 run to seize control of the first set, 18-9. The Wolverines would coast to end, finishing off its largest set win of the young season, 25-14.
 
Chicago State took an early 4-2 lead, but Utah Valley used a 6-2 run to retake the lead, 8-5. After exchanging points, the Cougars went on a 5-0 run to take the lead, 14-12 lead. Kazna Tanuvasa led the UVU rally as the Wolverines went on an 8-1 surge to take command of the second set, 20-15. CSU was unable to challenge from there as UVU score four of the final points of the set to take the set, 25-18.
 
Kristen Bell came out firing in the third set, hammering home three kills as Utah Valley sprinted out to a 10-3 lead. The Cougars fought back, ripping off a 13-4 run to take the lead,16-14. Nock and Tori Dorius combined for a block to get the Wolverines back on track as both teams battled to a 20-19 Chicago State lead late in the third set. Jaysa Funk Stratton and Tanuvasa combined for four of Utah Valley's final six points as the Wolverines pulled away with a late 6-1 run to take the deciding set, 25-21.
 
Tanuvasa led the Wolverines with 13 kills to go along with four digs and four blocks. Nock set a career-high with nine blocks to go along with four kills. Kristen Bell finished with nine kills and three blocks while Dorius and Sadie Hamson each had six blocks. Seren Jardine led UVU with 15 digs and Funk Stratton chipped in 28 assists to go along with eight digs.
 
Utah Valley finished with a season-high 17 blocks, the most the Wolverines have had since a four-set win over Grand Canyon on Nov. 17, 2018. The 17 blocks is tied for the most UVU has ever had in a three-set match. The only other time that has happened was in a 3-0 sweep of CSU Bakersfield on Oct. 26, 2017. The Wolverines also set a season-low in opponents hitting percentage, holding Chicago State to -0.027, marking the first time since that matchup with CSU Bakersfield that UVU has held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage and the lowest hitting percentage an opponent has had since Chicago State had a -0.065 percentage on Sep. 29, 2016.
 
The Wolverines 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. Monday's match is set for 6:00 p.m. MT and Tuesday's contest is set for 12:00 p.m. MT. Both matches will be broadcasted on the WAC Digital Network. UVU then returns home to host WAC-leader New Mexico State on Monday and Tuesday, March 8-9, in Lockhart Arena.