OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University defeated Eastern Washington 3-0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-22) behind 13 kills from
Avery Shewell as she recorded her 600
th career kill at UVU. Sophomore
Evalyn Chism set a new career-high with 37 assists while adding three kills and five blocks. UVU (1-0) held EWU (0-1) to a .108 hitting percentage and tallied 11 total blocks in the win.
"I think this is something that we are going to have to do in any match. There are going to moments when we are ahead and need to close out a match, and moments when we are behind and have to come back", said UVU head coach
Sam Atoa. "These are great matches to have to start the season to do some of those things in tight moments."
The Wolverines used a fast start to pull away in the opening with a 5-0 run that was fueled by setter
Evalyn Chism, who had a kill and later added a block assist with Maranda Wolf, putting UVU in front 12-7. Following an Eastern Washington timeout, the Eagles fired back to get the set back to 13-11.
Maranda Woolf finished the opening set with five kills on six swings while adding a pair of block assists to lead UVU to a 25-20 win.
The second set featured 12 ties and four lead changes, but the Wolverines prevailed in the end behind six kills from
Avery Shewell. The Eagles led 23-21 after a UVU timeout, but the set swung in UVU's favor after a pair of errors tied the set at 23. Utah Valley forced their first set point after a block assist by Shewell and
Bella Wooden made it 24-23. They later forced their second set point with Shewell's six kills of the set before an attack error ended the set at 27-25.
Eastern Washington led 18-16 in the third set before
Madi Standifird provided a spark in the third set, helping the Wolverines tie and then take their only lead of the set. She provided a kill before a pair of service aces put UVU in front 21-18. Shewell added four kills on 14 swings as UVU had a match-high six blocks in the set.
UVU freshman
Sami Blackett added nine kills in her first collegiate match.
Bella Wooden, in her first UVU match, finished with six kills and six blocks to lead UVU at the net.
The Wolverines are back in action tonight at 7:00 p.m. MT against Kansas City (0-1). The Roos fell in the day's opening match to CSU Bakersfield. Utah Valley will meet the Runners tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. MT inside Lockhart Arena.
