LOGAN, Utah – Utah Valley University defeated Utah State University 3-2 (25-18, 23-25, 18-25, 25-19, 17-15) on Thursday night at the Dee Glen Spectrum. UVU (9-2) got a career-high 21 kills from Avery Shewell, who fueled a comeback over USU (2-8) for their first win since over the Aggies since 2021.
 
"I'm very proud of this team tonight. We went in and played in a fun atmosphere tonight that was tough. We fought through some adversity and fell behind, but this team once again showed their resilience, and we did what was needed to get the victory. I was so happy to see Bella play well against her former team; it isn't easy playing against former teammates and coaches. This match is one that will help us as we go throughout the season," said UVU head coach Sam Atoa.
 
The match's opening set went back-and-forth for the first 20 points, with the two teams locked 9-9 before the Wolverines took an early edge after a successful challenge and kills from Sami Blackett and Evalyn Chism made it 12-9. The Aggies hung around during the first set, but a 4-0 run by Utah Valley made it a 21-16 lead to help UVU secure the opening set. Bella Wooden had four kills in the opening set as Utah Valley hit .500 in the opening set.
 
The Aggies rallied and took the second set after limiting Utah Valley to a .171 attack percentage in the set. Utah State took a 10-6 lead and later held an 18-13 lead before the Wolverines mounted a late comeback and cut the lead to 20-18 after a service ace by Lani Matavao after USU pushed the lead out to setpoint at 24-20, they scored three straight points starting with kills from Blackett and Shewell before a block assist by Chism and Wooden made it 24-22 and forced a USU timeout. The lead was cut to one after a kill from Wooden, but the Aggies held on.
 
Utah State jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the third set and pushed out to 16-8 before Utah Valley answered with a 4-1 run that started with three kills from Shewell before a USU attack error made it 17-12. The Aggies quickly went on a 4-0 run to push the lead out to 21-12 before closing the set for a 25-18 win.
 
The Wolverines trailed 9-7 before a 7-0 run made it 14-9 in the fourth set. UVU continued to apply the pressure on the Aggies. Leading 22-18, Utah Valley turned up the defense at the net after blocks by Shewell and Maranda Woolf put UVU in front 23-18. The set went to the visitors after a USU attack error.
 
The Aggies were coming off a five-set loss to BYU last night, but this time, they were at home. The set was back-and-forth, ending in a 4-4 tie after both sides traded points. UVU broke the tie with a kill from Shewell before Woolf and Eliza Hakes teamed up with a block assist. The match was tied again at 6-6 when Utah Valley broke through again, going up 9-6 before USU rallied and later took a 15-14 lead before Shewell landed her 21^st kill to tie the match. The Wolverines jumped in front after an Aggie error made it match point, and the match went in UVU's favor after a successful challenge.
 
Blackett finished with 14kills and ten digs for her first career double-double of the year. She added six total blocks in the match. Wooden finished the match with ten kills, four digs, and six total blocks.
 
Utah Valley will close out non-conference play on Saturday, Sept. 21 with a 6:00 p.m. MT in Provo against No. 19 BYU. They will hit the road for the WAC opener on Thursday, Sept. 26 at California Baptist at 6:30 p.m. MT.