OREM, Utah – Utah Valley women's volleyball opens the 2023 season on Friday by hosting the Utah Valley Invitational. The three-team field will feature four matches over two days, with the host school playing three times. UVU opens the tournament with a pair of matches on Aug. 25 as they will meet NC State at Noon MT before hosting Utah at 6:00 p.m. MT.  The Wolverines and Wolfpack will play a second match on Aug. 26 at 6:00 p.m. MT.
 
"We are excited to get started with a year. I am looking forward to watching my team play. This weekend is a very challenging start, but we are ready for it. To have Utah and NC State on campus is awesome for our program! Come join us for a fun weekend!!" said UVU head coach Sam Atoa.
 
The Wolverines went 18-11 last year and 10-4 in WAC play. They earned the No. 4 seed in the WAC Tournament and made their third consecutive WAC Tournament Championship match. UVU brings back some key elements from last year's team and will look for some important contributions from the seven newcomers to the program.
 
Utah Valley finished in the top 25 in blocks per set in 2022 after reaching 2.62 blocks/set, which placed them 22nd in the country. Caleigh Vagana finished second on the team in total blocks last year with 95. She averaged 1.42 blocks/set, which was top of the WAC for a portion of the season.
 
The Wolverines return all-conference outside hitters Tori Ellis and Avery Shewell for the 2023 season. Ellis earned her second Preseason All-WAC honor after setting new career highs in kills with 303 and total blocks with 90 to finish third on the team. 2022 WAC Freshman of the Year Shewell recorded 241 kills on the season, en route to earning three TicketSmarter WAC Freshman of the Week and two TicketSmarter WAC Offensive Player of the Week.
 
Abbie Medeiros returns for her senior season after recording 596 total assists during 2022 and reaching 6.08 assists/set in WAC matches. Her efforts in the WAC Tournament helped her earn a spot on the WAC Tournament team. During the year, her 29 aces helped lead UVU to the top spot in the conference with an average of 1.72 aces/set.
 
ABOUT THE WOLFPACK
NC State finished 16-13 in 2022 and 10-8 in the ACC, which put them sixth in the 14-team conference. The Wolfpack return ACC All-Freshman honoree Ava Brizard, who finished second in kills last year with 256 and 3.01 kills/set. Junior Martyna Leoniak added 201 kills and averaged 2.44 blocks/set. The team finished first in the ACC in digs and first in attacks per set last season.
 
ABOUT THE UTES
Utah finished the 2022 campaign at 15-16 and 8-12 in Pac-12 play. The Utes picked up a victory over UVU last August during the Utah Classic in Salt Lake City. Wisconsin transfer Lauren Jardine returns to lead the offense attack at the net after a season with 268 kills. Senior Libero Vanessa Ramirez returns as the leader of the Ute defense after leading them in digs a year ago. At the net, KJ Burgess led Utah with 109 total blocks.
 
PRESEASON ALL-WAC
Utah Valley was picked fourth in the 2023 WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Stephen F. Austin was selected to win the conference. Senior outside Tori Ellis was named to the Preseason All-WAC Team.
 
UTAH VALLEY INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, Aug. 25            NC State         vs.        Utah Valley                  Noon, MT
Friday, Aug. 25            Utah                 vs.        Utah Valley                 6:00 p.m. MT
Saturday, Aug. 26        NC State         vs.        Utah                            Noon, MT
Saturday, Aug. 26        NC State         vs.        Utah Valley                 6:00 p.m. MT
 
 
UP NEXT
The Wolverines will travel to the United States Naval Academy for the second weekend of competition. UVU will meet Navy, Old Dominion, and Maryland at the Kristen Dickmann Invitational.