OREM, Utah – Utah Valley women's volleyball returns home to Lockhart Arena for the final two matches of the regular season this week, with Southern Utah on Nov. 9 at 6:00 p.m. MT. The regular season concludes with Utah Tech on Nov. 11 in the Old Hammer Rivalry. UVU will honor seven who will be playing in their final home contest at Lockhart Arena.
Matt Baiamonte and Kayli Doxey will call the action on ESPN+, and live stats will be available on UVUstats.com.
The Wolverines were swept last week in two games on the road and will look to rebound this week against the in-state foes. UVU played a hard-fought match in Arlington against the Mavericks, with middle blocker
Caleigh Vagana providing eight of UVU's match-high 13 blocks.
In their first trip to Nacogdoches, Utah Valley battled the Ladyjacks to four sets, including the third set that saw each team with multiple set points before the Wolverines pulled out a 31-29 set win. WAC Player of the Week
Tori Ellis had a match-high 20 kills in the game as she tied a season-high and was two off a career-high.
ABOUT SOUTHERN UTAH
The Thunderbirds are 6-18 and 2-12 in WAC Play and will look to play spoiler this week. They are led by middle blocker Hana Makanova, who enters with a .268 attack percentage and 60 total blocks on the year. Outside hitter Andrea Spasojevic has tallied 254 kills, 30 aces, and 289 digs to lead the offensive and defense efforts.
The Wolverines swept SUU earlier this year in Cedar City behind 11 kills from
Avery Shewell and three aces from
Hailey Cuff. Utah Valley won the battle at the net with a 12-2 difference in blocks in the match.
ABOUT UTAH TECH
The Trailblazers are 8-16 and 4-10 in the WAC. They have a versatile setter in Teala Laufiso, who leads UTU in hitting percentage with .275 and assists at 535. Outside hitter Kennedi Knudsen enters the match with 286 kills on the year. UVU won the first meeting in St. George in four sets after 13 kills from Ellis and
Vittoria Price, adding nine blocks in the match. The Wolverines have won eight straight in the series going back to 2006.
WIN AND YOU'RE IN
Utah Valley is looking to punch their ticket to the 2023 WAC Volleyball Tournament; they can clinch a spot with either a win or a Utah Tech loss. The seeding will come down to the final weekend of action, as UVU, Abilene Christian, and Tarleton State are tied for the sixth spot.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley will host the 2023 Western Athletic Conference Tournament and can clinch a spot this weekend. As the host, UVU would play their first-round match on Nov. 16 at 7:00 p.m. MT inside the Lockhart Arena. The full bracket will be announced after the conclusion of the regular season on Nov. 13.
