SUU Volleyball Wrapping Up Tournament Play this Weekend

Women's Volleyball 9/8/2012 8:42:00 PM SUU Strategic Communication

SUU Volleyball Drops Hard Fought Match to San Jose State

BOISE, Idaho - Southern Utah University volleyball shrugged off a slow start to take back-to-back sets against San Jose State on Saturday, but ultimately fell in the fifth set to fall to 3-7 on the year. The Spartans were able to take the match 25-13, 22-25, 20-25, 25-20 and 15-11 to move to 4-5.

The Thunderbirds had a rough start in the opening set, falling behind 14-3 and prompting a second SUU timeout. The Spartan lead grew to as much as 23-7 before Southern Utah began a five-point run to pull within 23-12. However, it was as close as the T-Birds came, falling 25-13 on a final SJSU kill. San Jose's attack was the reason for its success in the opening set, hitting .636 with 15 kills on 22 attempts and only one error.

The second set proved to be much closer and more favorable to Southern Utah. Following 10 ties through 16-16, the Thunderbirds used a four-point run capped by a block by Gabi Mirand and Cashaana Renfro to take a 20-16 lead. The advantage held down the stretch with the T-Birds taking the set 25-22.

The favorable momentum carried over in to the third set with Southern Utah building a quick 4-0 to begin the frame. San Jose State pulled to within one twice during the stanza, at 6-5 and 7-6, but the Thunderbirds were able to weather each SJSU run and hold onto the lead. A final kill by Analaine Mailoto put the finishes touches on the set with the T-Birds taking it 25-20.

The beginning of the fourth looked like much the same from the third, however it was the Spartans that began the stanza with the 4-0 advantage. The margin grew to as much as 13-3 for San Jose before Southern Utah began to chip away at the Spartan lead. SUU cut the gap to three, 19-16, late in the set and prompted a timeout from San Jose State. The T-Birds came to within three a second time at 21-18, but couldn't get any closer as the Spartans took the set 25-20 in the end. The Thunderbirds had improved their hitting percentage in each set before taking a step back in the fourth (.185) from the third (.321).

San Jose opened the fifth set with the momentum, scoring the first two points before SUU answered with a four-point run and force an SJSU timeout. The Spartans came out of the break and tied the game at 4-4, but a kill by Mailoto and ace by Gabi Mirand put the lead back in to the Thunderbirds' hands, 6-4. SJSU then made its run with a five-point flurry to take a 9-6 lead and force a Southern Utah timeout.

The Thunderbirds moved to within one point, 9-8, following the break behind a Mailoto kill and Spartan error. SJSU answered with back-to-back kills to push the lead back to three, 11-8, and prompt a Southern Utah timeout. SUU fought off a San Jose match point at 14-10 with a Cashaana Renfro kill, but a final Spartan kill punctuated the match 15-11.

Mailoto led all hitters with 17 kills and was named to the all-tournament team following the match. Southern Utah had a trio of double-digit diggers with Moore leading the way with 20, Youart with 12 and Schofield with 10.

Southern Utah will be back in action opening Big Sky Conference play next weekend at Weber State and Idaho State.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Analaine Mailoto: OH; 5' 10"; Senior

#10 Gabi Mirand: S; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#6 Cashaana Renfro: MB; 6' 2"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#15 Analaine Mailoto
: 5' 10"; Senior
: OH

#10 Gabi Mirand
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: S

#6 Cashaana Renfro
: 6' 2"; Senior
: MB

Players Mentioned

#15 Analaine Mailoto

#10 Gabi Mirand

#6 Cashaana Renfro

Players Mentioned

#15 Analaine Mailoto

#10 Gabi Mirand

#6 Cashaana Renfro