OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University defeated Utah Tech University, 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-20), on Saturday afternoon inside Lockhart Arena. UVU (10-9, 6-1) playing its first match of the year in the venue, jumped the Trailblazers (15-5, 6-2) for sole possession of first place in the WAC.
Avery Page finished with 15 kills for Utah Valley, tying a career high and setting a new season high with seven total blocks. Utah Tech was led by Nana Asiata, who finished with a match-high 18 kills. The two teams split the regular season matchups in the Old Hammer Rivalry.
Evalyn Chism finished with 23 assists and passed Abbie Medeiros for fourth all-time in UVU career assists.
Sami Blackett recorded 11 kills and six digs, while
Bella Wooden added six kills, seven total blocks, and five digs for the Wolverines.
"I thought the girls just played an excellent match," said UVU head coach
Sam Atoa following the victory. "I think it just came down to their preparation and knowing our game plan, both offensively and defensively. We talked about certain strengths and weaknesses and how we could exploit those, and I thought they did that very well."
Atoa emphasized the importance of game management, adding, "We talk a lot about managing the game. You're going to make some good plays and some bad plays. However, I think it's a lot easier to manage games and situations when you're doing well."
In a battle of two of the top defensive teams in the conference, it was the offense that stole the show in the first set, with the teams combining for 34 kills. Utah Valley's Page finished with six in the opening frame, while Blackett added five. Utah Tech was led by Asiata, who had six.
Page helped spark UVU with a 6-2 run to go up 14-12, recording two of her six kills during the stretch. After a Utah Tech rally cut the deficit to 20-19, the Wolverines answered with kills from
Olivia Gloeckner and Page to extend the lead to 22-19 before two more kills from the senior clinched the set, 25-22.
The Wolverines turned up the defense in the second set, tallying seven blocks—six assisted by Wooden. Utah Tech led early 9-5 before UVU scored six of the next eight points to tie it at 11. Blackett started the run with a kill and ended it with a service ace. After breaking a 13-13 tie with a kill from Page,
Alyvia Jaffa and Wooden combined for a block to make it 14-13. The Wolverines extended their lead to 17-14 with a kill from Jaffa, who finished with five kills on eight swings and six block assists. Wooden helped close the set, teaming up with
Alyssa Erickson for a block before pairing with Blackett to push the lead to 22-16. After a late Utah Tech push, Jaffa sealed the set with a kill.
Utah Valley took a 9-8 lead in the third set after a kill from Wooden, later extending it to 11-8. Utah Tech tied it at 12 before a service error gave UVU the edge again. Jaffa continued to dominate in the middle with three block assists, pairing with Page for back-to-back blocks to give the Wolverines a 23-19 lead. Wooden then delivered an ace, and Page finished the match with a kill.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley will close out the 2025 home schedule next week with Southern Utah on Thursday, Oct. 30, and California Baptist on Saturday, Nov. 1. The final three WAC matches will be on the road in Texas against Tarleton State, UT Arlington, and Abilene Christian.
