SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The University of Utah defeated Utah Valley University (26-24, 25-22, 25-22, 25-15) in a four-set match at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Tuesday night. Three Wolverines (3-4) finished in double figures in kills with Avery Page (14), Sami Blackett (13), and Alyvia Jaffa (11). No. 22 Utah was led by Emrie Moea'i who tallied 16 kills in the match.
 
Utah Valley opened the first set with a hard-fought battle, ultimately securing a 26-24 victory. After trailing 0-4 early, the Wolverines surged ahead with a six-point streak, highlighted by consecutive kills from Jaffa and a service ace by Page, pushing the score to 10-7. Jaffa, who recorded 11 kills in the match, was just two shy of her career-high. The set concluded with a tense finish, as Page delivered back-to-back kills and a decisive service ace from Natalie Riggs capped the comeback victory.
 
The second set started with Utah gaining an early edge, but the Wolverines kept the score tight with Jaffa and Sami Blackett leading the way. UVU made a late surge with the set tied at 20-20 after a 4-0 run that was fueled by Madi Standifird behind the service line to put the Wolverines in a chance to win the set. The Utes responded with a run to close out the set and even the match up at 1-1.
 
In a tightly contested third set, Utah Valley fought hard but ultimately fell to Utah 25-22. The set was marked by an impressive performance from Page, who notched six kills in the set including a critical one from Evalyn Chism at 9-10 that kept the visitors within striking distance. During this match, Page recorded her 2,800th attack in her UVU career. Despite a late rally that tied the score at 21-21 with a late run with a pair of blocks by Page and Bella Wooden. The Big 12 Utah Utes, rallied late to win the third set.
 
The fourth set began with a tightly contested exchange, as Utah Valley quickly leveled the score at 1-1 with a kill by Jaffa assisted by Chism. The Wolverines managed a brief surge, pulling ahead 3-1 after consecutive scoring plays, including a kill by Blackett. The Wolverines held an lead before the Utes pulled away with a 15-2 run to pull away before securing the match.
 
 Chism directed the offense effectively, recording 35 assists and collecting 10 digs for her first double-double of the season and the 23^rd of her career.  while Jaffa also posted five total blocks and registered 11 kills with a .474 hitting percentage. Notably, Lani Matavao moved into ninth all-time in digs, surpassing Chelsea Baugh.
 
UP NEXT
The Wolverines travel to North Carolina this weekend for a pair of matches. They will play at historic Cameron Indoor Stadium against Duke on Friday, Sept. 12 before playing Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Raleigh at NC State.