OREM – Utah Valley defeated Idaho State, 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 25-27, 25-15) in Lockhart Arena, extending its win streak to four-straight matches. With the win, UVU improves to 5-5 on the season as the Bengals fall to 4-7 on the year.
 
"We keep talking about our control and our urgency," said Utah Valley head volleyball coach Sam Atoa. "I really liked what we did, especially being able to come back in that fourth set after dropping a set. We had other kids playing that don't always have the chance to get on the court and they were able to stick to the system and the plan that we had and it allowed us to be successful."
 
Idaho State raced out to an early 4-1, but the Wolverines responded with a 6-2 run to take the lead, 7-6. After both teams went back and forth, the Bengals used a 5-1 surge to retake the lead, 13-11. A pair of kills by Jules Fink and Caleigh Vagana tied the set up at 13-13 before both teams battled to an 18-18 tie. UVU used a balanced attack to finish the set on a 7-1 run to take the opening set, 25-19.
 
The Wolverines ripped off the first three points of the second set en route to an early 6-3 lead. The Bengals rallied with a 6-2 run to retake the lead, 9-8. Both teams exchanged mini runs before alternating 14 straight points, bringing the set to 21-21. Abbie Miller led the Wolverines to a 5-1 run to end the set, giving Utah Valley a 25-22 win in the set and extending its lead to 2-0.
 
Fink and Kendra Nock got UVU off to a quick start in the third set as the Wolverines took an early 5-0 lead. Idaho State countered with a 5-1 run to cut the lead to 6-5 but Sadie Hamson and Kalea Kennedy led Utah Valley on a 5-1 run of their own to extend the lead to 11-6. ISU pushed back, using a 6-1 run to tie the set up at 12-12, but the Wolverines countered with a 6-1 run to push the lead to 18-13. The Bengals made a run, using a 10-4 surge to regain the lead, 23-22, but a 3-1 run by the Utah Valley brought the Wolverines back in front, 25-24. Idaho State scored the final three points of the set to capture the set, 27-25, to bring the match to 2-1.
 
The Bengals took an early 5-3 lead but Makayla Pollard and the Wolverines with an 8-2 run to retake the lead, 11-7. After three-straight points by ISU, Fink and Kennedy led a dominating 11-1 run, aided by a pair of aces by Abbie Vincent, to extend the lead to 22-11. The Bengals made a final push, scoring four-straight points, but Bryton Bishop put a stop to the run and an ace by Natalie Palmer ended the set, 25-15, giving the Wolverines the win, 3-1.
 
Fink led the Wolverines, finishing with 13 kills and tying a career-high with six blocks. Kennedy set career highs with 12 points on 11 kills and an ace while Nock added seven kills and a team-high seven blocks. Miller finished with 32 assists, her third game this season with 30 or more assists, and Palmer chipped in 12 assists and three aces. Bishop led the Utah Valley backline with a game-high 23 digs.
 
"When we take care of the ball, there are good things that we do," said Atoa. "When we don't, we struggle and have unforced errors. Our approach is to take care of things on our side. We will know and have an idea of what the other team will do, whether it's BYU or Idaho State, but if we are able to take control of our game, our service game, and our passing, we will do great."
 
The Wolverines wraps up its nonconference season with the UCCU Crosstown Clash against in-state rival #15 BYU at home on Sep. 18. The match will be in Lockhart Arena at 6:00 p.m. MT. Utah Valley then begins WAC play with home matches against New Mexico State on Thursday, Sep. 23 and Grand Canyon on Saturday, Sep. 25. Both matches will be in Lockhart Arena with Thursday's match starting at 6:00 p.m. MT and Saturday's contest beginning at 1:00 p.m. MT.