OREM – Kristen Bell's career night led Utah Valley to a thrilling five-set victory over Hawaii, 3-2 (25-23, 14-25, 25-23, 24-26, 15-12) in front of a packed crowd in Lockhart Arena. With the win, UVU improves to 1-2 on the season as the Rainbow Wahine fall to 2-2 on the year. UH entered the match receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches Top-25 poll.
 
"It was our execution and our passing that got us more in system and allowed us to run our offense," said Utah Valley head volleyball coach Sam Atoa. "We knew what kind of defense they were going to present against us but we didn't have the passing to exploit that. Once we fixed that, it gave us chances to spread the ball around.
 
"I was really happy for them and how they kept their poise and allowed themselves to trust in their ability to compete. We obviously did not play well or execute in our last match and this game is just as much mental as it is physical. It was important for us to stay focused on our game plan and what we needed to do. If our minds our clear, it allows us to execute better in tough moments like that."
 
Hawaii took an early 2-1 lead before the Wolverines used a 6-1 run to take a 7-3 advantage. After both teams went back and forth, the Rainbow Wahine used a 4-1 run to trim the UVU lead to 15-13. Both teams would exchange the next eight points before another 4-1 run by Hawaii tied the set up at 20-20. The Wolverines would outscore UH 5-3 down the stretch, punctuated by a Bell kill to give Utah Valley a 25-23 opening-set win.  
 
The Rainbow Wahine got off to a quick start, taking an early 6-2 advantage. The Wolverines countered with a 4-2 run to trim the deficit to 8-6 but Hawaii used another 6-2 run to push its lead back out to 14-8. UVU made another push to cut the lead to 15-11 but UH outscored the Wolverines 10-3 down the stretch to take the second set, 25-14, to tie the match up at one set apiece.
 
Utah Valley raced out to an early 4-1 lead in the third set. The Rainbow Wahine used a 5-3 run to cut the lead down to 7-6 but Kazna Tanuvasa led the Wolverines on a 7-3 counter to push the lead back out to 15-10. Hawaii roared back, using a 9-3 surge to take the lead, 19-18, but another Tanuvasa kill, follow by back-to-back points by Abbie Miller, put UVU ahead again, 21-19. Bell led the final charge as Utah Valley was able to hold off Hawaii to take the set, 25-23, and extend its lead to 2-1.
 
Both teams alternated points to start the set as UVU opened up an early 6-4 lead. Hawaii responded with a 5-1 to retake the lead, 9-7, but the Wolverines scored back-to-back points to tie the set up at 9-9. After both teams exchanged points, the Rainbow Wahine used a 5-2 run to push its lead out to 20-16. Bell and Jules Fink led the UVU rally as the Wolverines went on a 6-1 surge to retake the lead, 22-21. After back-to-back points by Hawaii, a pair of Tanuvasa kills put Utah Valley at set point, 24-23.  The Wolverines were unable to close the set as UH scored the final three points to take the fourth set, 26-24, and tie the match up at 2-2.
 
Utah Valley used a balance attack to take the early lead in the deciding set, 5-3. Hawaii responded with a 3-1 run to tie the set up at 6-6 but Tanuvasa and Kendra Nock scored back-to-back points to put the Wolverines up 8-6. UH countered with a 4-1 surge to retake the lead, 10-9 but Tori Dorius took over, scoring four straight points to put Utah Valley a point away from victory, 14-10. After a pair of Hawaii points, Bell slammed home the final point, giving the Wolverines the set win, 15-12, and a 3-2 match win.
 
Bell led the Wolverines, finishing with 18 kills and a career-high 18 digs. Tanuvasa chipped in a double-double, finishing with 12 kills, 11 digs and a pair of blocks. Dorius finished with 12 kills to go along with four blocks Miller added her second-career double-double, leading UVU with a career-high 28 assists and 10 digs. Natalie Palmer contributed her first-career double-double with career highs of 19 assists, 10 digs, and a pair of aces. Bryton Bishop chipped in a career-high 19 digs to go along with six assists.
 
The Wolverines travel to Salt Lake City for a matchup against Cal Poly on Friday, Sep. 3. The match is set for 4:30 p.m. MT. Utah Valley will then continue north to Ogden, Utah to take on in-state rival Weber State on Wednesday, Sep. 8, at 6:00 p.m. MT.