OREM – The Wolverines will host #19 Utah, in Lockhart Arena, to begin its 2021 fall season. UVU and the Utes will face off on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27-28, in the season-opener for both squads. Friday's match will be broadcasted on ESPN+ at 6:00 p.m. MT. Saturday's contest can be seen on the PAC-12 Network at 7:00 p.m. MT and will be at the Huntsman Center on the campus of the University of Utah.
 
Utah is from Salt Lake City, Utah, and calls the PAC-12 Conference home. Utah was 13-5 a season ago, including 13-4 in PAC-12 play. The Utes finished third in the PAC-12 standings last season and are predicted to finish seventh in the conference this season. This marks the fifteenth matchup on the court as the Wolverines hold a 1-13 record against the Utes all-time. UVU has dropped its last seven contests with Utah with its only win coming at home in a 3-1 contest on Sept. 4, 2009.
 
The Utah Valley Wolverines claimed the title of 2020-21 WAC Tournament Champions after UVU took down defending-champion NM State in straight sets (25-21, 25-22, 25-23) in the championship match. The Wolverines were led by WAC Tournament MVP Seren Jardine who finished the tournament averaging 7.43 digs per set. Junior outside hitter Kazna Tanuvasa also earned WAC All-Tournament team honors as she added 4.14 kills per set to propel UVU to its first ever WAC Tournament Championship.
 
The Wolverines reached its highest RPI (rating power index) in school history, entering the NCAA Volleyball Tournament with an RPI of 42. UVU holds the highest RPI in the WAC, including the biggest jump from 2019 to 2020. The Wolverines hold the third highest RPI in the state of Utah, and are among the top 20 in the country in improvement from last season to this year.
 
Outside hitter Kazna Tanuvasa enters her senior season sitting fourth in UVU history in career kills (1204), needing 397 to become the school's all-time leader. Tanuvasa also ranks third in career attacks and fifth in career points. Senior outside hitter Kristen Bell currently ranks 10th in career points (949) and kills (802).
 
The Wolverines lose two starters and a total of three letterwinners from last year's squad that went to the NCAA tournament after winning the WAC tournament and tying for second in the Western Athletic Conference. Utah Valley will welcome in a total of five newcomers to the roster this season. Kalea Kennedy and Ellee Boyack join the Wolverines as transfers and both qualify to play this year as juniors. The other three newcomers are true freshman Natalie Palmer, Anna Johnson, and Chloie Brinton.
 
Utah Valley then welcomes Hawaii to Lockhart Arena on Thursday, Sep. 2, at 5:00 p.m. MT. The matchup will be broadcasted on ESPN+. Following the matchup with Hawaii, the Wolverines are next slated to travel to Salt Lake City, Utah, to take on Cal Poly, on Sep.3 at 4:30 p.m. MT.