OREM, Utah – Utah Valley University women's volleyball dropped its season opener to Utah Tech on Friday morning inside Lockhart Arena.
Madi Standifird recorded a career-high 17 kills for UVU (0-1), but the Wolverines were unable to slow down a balanced Trailblazer attack as Utah Tech (1-0) earned a 3-1 victory behind 16 kills from Nana Asiata.
Lani Toutai finished with 18 digs and six assists as she passed 1,200 career digs in the match. She needs seven digs to pass Camie Manwill for fourth all-time.
The Wolverines battled back from an 11-1 deficit in the opening set and chipped away at the lead, cutting it to 24-20 late in the frame. Utah Tech held on to take the set and a 1-0 match lead.
Utah Valley responded in the second set, recording four blocks while limiting the Trailblazers to a .147 hitting percentage. Standifird tallied five kills in the set and helped spark an 8-0 run to close it out and even the match at 1-1.
In her UVU debut,
Brielle Rueckert played a key role during the run with a solo block and three block assists while adding three kills. She finished the match with eight kills and six blocks.
Olivia Gloeckner,
Chloe Hansen and
Alyvia Watkins each added two kills in the second-set win.
Utah Tech regained momentum in the third set, increasing its defensive pressure and holding the Wolverines to a .143 hitting percentage. While Utah Valley limited Asiata's production, Utah Tech received key contributions from middle blockers Shaylee Dahle and Lusia Langi.
Utah Valley took an early 10-7 lead after a Standifird kill and continued to receive strong play from setter
Evalyn Medaris, who finished with 35 assists. The set turned in Utah Tech's favor following a 6-1 run that gave the Trailblazers an 18-15 advantage. UVU cut the deficit to 22-21 on a kill from Rueckert, but Utah Tech closed out the set to take a 2-1 lead.
The Trailblazers delivered their best offensive performance of the match in the fourth set, hitting .400 to secure the season-opening victory.
UP NEXT
Utah Valley returns to action Friday evening against receiving-votes Utah at 7 p.m. MDT inside Lockhart Arena. The match will conclude the opening day of the Utah Valley Invitational.
