OREM, Utah – Utah Valley women's volleyball team returns to the Lonestar state for a pair of matches this weekend as the regular season is coming to an end. The Wolverines will play Abilene Christian on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 5:00 p.m. MT and then travel to UT Arlington for a match at 10:00 a.m. MT on Saturday, Nov. 9.
 
BROADCAST PLANS
This week's matches will air on ESPN+, with live stats available via the schedule page on GoUVU.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wolverines split a pair of matches last weekend on the road against in-state rivals. The week started with a 3-1 victory in Cedar City against the Thunderbirds. UVU had one of their best offensive matches of the season, hitting .372 as a team, which is the second-best this season. Avery Shewell finished with a match-high 17 kills.
 
In the season's second edition of the Old Hammer Rivalry, the Wolverines jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Trailblazers reverse-swept them at home. Sami Blackett had 27 kills in the match, but the UVU defense had one of their best nights, led by middle blocker Bella Wooden, who tallied 13 total blocks to finish in the top 10 for the most blocks in a single match. She continues to be one of the best blockers in the country and comes in this week at No. 2 in total blocks and blocks per set.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Bryley Steinhilber leads the 8-15, 3-9 Wildcats with 243 kills, 222 digs, and 22 aces. She has done a little bit of everything this year for ACU. Hannah Gonzalez leads them with a .231 hitting percentage and 63 blocks. The Wolverines have swept the last two matches, which have been in Orem.
 
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Utah Valley took UTA to five sets a couple of weeks ago in Orem. The Mavericks enter this weekend with a 22-2 record and 12-0 in the WAC. They are led by Brianna Ford, Paige Reagor, and Mollie Blank, who combine for one of the top offensive and defensive attacks in the WAC.
 
LEADING THE WAC
The Wolverines are currently leading the WAC in aces with 156. Avery Shewell leads UVU with 39 aces and is currently ninth all-time in aces in a regular season. Lacee Koelliker (2005) and McKenna Tait (2013) hold the current record with 55.
 
Bella Wooden has tallied 154 total blocks and is now in the top five in the single-season record book. Madison Dennison had 191 total blocks in 2017 to hold the current record.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley closes out the regular season with Tarleton State on Nov. 14 at 6:00 p.m. MT, which will be UVU's Senior Night. The regular season ends on Nov. 16 with a match against Southern Utah.