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UVU Huddles during a five set thriller against California Baptist
Stephanie Paul

Utah Valley Welcomes Two Big West Contenders to Lockhart Arena

9/30/2026 2:27:00 PM

OREM, Utah – Utah Valley women's volleyball continues Big West play this week as it welcomes UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly to Lockhart Arena. First serve between the Wolverines and Gauchos is set for Thursday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. MT. Utah Valley will then host the Mustangs on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT.
 
BROADCAST INFO
This week's matches will air on ESPN+ with Matt Baiamonte on play-by-play and Sammy Miller providing analysis. Miller will make her Utah Valley volleyball broadcast debut after working UVU men's basketball broadcasts last season. Live stats will be available at GoUVU.com/stats.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Wolverines went 2-0 during the opening weekend of conference play. Utah Valley swept UC Riverside on Thursday before rallying from a two-set deficit for a reverse-sweep victory over California Baptist on Saturday.
 
Miley Thunstrom totaled 34 kills, averaging 17 per match, and earned Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors. Freshmen Bree Carson and Chloe Hansen also delivered key performances. Carson recorded 13 kills, while Hansen finished with eight kills and three service aces in Saturday's victory.
 
SCOUTING THE GAUCHOS
UC Santa Barbara snapped a six-match losing streak last weekend with a 2-0 start to conference play. The Gauchos enter Orem with a 6-7 overall record.
 
Outside hitter Gabi Martinez leads UCSB with 3.68 kills and 4.10 points per set, while Sophia Wendlick has added 126 kills. Defensively, Bella Mathis has recorded 43 total blocks, and Courtni Youngblood leads the team with 3.60 digs per set.
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Cal Poly opened the season receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 poll and enters the week with a 6-6 overall record and a 2-0 mark in Big West play.
 
The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last season and feature three preseason all-conference selections. Senior outside hitter Emma Frederick leads the way with 166 kills and an average of 4.10 points per set. Kendall Breshear ranks second on the team with 147 kills and 3.27 points per set. Middle blocker Chloe Leluge provides versatility at the net but has missed time during the nonconference schedule.
 
THUNSTROM NAMED OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Thunstrom had an outstanding week, recording a career-high 17 kills Thursday in a sweep of UC Riverside. She continued her strong play Saturday, helping the Wolverines rally for a reverse-sweep victory over California Baptist with 17 kills and added three service aces against the Lancers.
 
In her first season at Utah Valley, the Murrieta, California, native leads the Wolverines in kills (120), kills per set (2.61) and points (139), averaging 3.02 points per set. She also ranks second on the team with 10 service aces.
 
UP NEXT
Utah Valley heads on the road next weekend for its first Big West road trip of the season. The Wolverines will face UC Irvine on Friday, Oct. 9, before traveling to La Jolla to take on UC San Diego on Saturday, Oct. 10.
 
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