ABILENE, Texas – Utah Valley University women's volleyball picked up their first five-set victory since 2021 on Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 win over Abilene Christian (21-25, 28-30, 25-16, 25-22, 16-14). Avery Shewell had a season-high 19 kills, and Tori Ellis had 15 kills in the win for UVU (4-9, 1-1), who held ACU (6-8, 1-1) under .100 hitting percentage in two of the final three sets.
 
"Great team win today. We struggled early, but I'm very proud of how we fought back, especially after losing that tight 2nd set. I was very happy that Tori had a good match today. She was huge for us. Madi came off the bench and played very well. I was very happy for the experience she had today. Avery continues to bring her consistent play every match. I am glad she is on our team," said UVU head coach Sam Atoa.
 
After Abilene Christian won the opening set, the second set was highly contested, with neither team leading by more than four points. UVU led 25-24 after an ACU attack error made it set point, but the Wildcats quickly tied it up and held the set point until they won the set 30-28.
 
Utah Valley turned up the defense in the third set as they recorded four team blocks and took advantage of 11 ACU attack errors. Vittoria Price came alive with three kills to lead UVU during the set. Shewell, Ellis, and Kalea Kennedy all had two kills. The Wolverines pulled away, going up 18-10, after a pair of service aces from Evalyn Chism and a kill from Standifird. Price recorded the final two kills of the set to secure the set.
 
The momentum for Utah Valley continued into the fourth set as Standifird held the serve for seven services as UVU built a 10-2 lead, and later, they went up 13-3 after a kill and service ace from Shewell, who finished the set with five kills in the set, and Ellis followed suit with five of her own as the veterans took control down the stretch before senior Kennedy closed the set with a kill.
 
The Wolverines had a 4-1 run to open the fifth set, including Abbie Medeiros's 98^th career service ace before Ellis and Shewell added kills. A pair of attack Wildcat attack errors extended the UVU lead to 7-3. After ACU rallied and tied the match at 12, the two teams would trade points until Shewell came up with two big kills to secure the 16-14 set win.
 
Medeiros recorded her 99^th career service ace and tied Kazna Tanuvasa for seventh all-time in UVU history. Freshman Madi Standifird set a new career-high with six kills in the match, with Vagana and Kennedy adding six kills.
 
Utah Valley returns home for their next four matches, starting with Stephen F. Austin on Thursday night at 5:00 p.m. MT inside Lockhart Arena. UVU hosts UT Arlington on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. MT.