Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Thunderbirds put together a couple impressive performances at the Amy Svoboda Memorial Classic picking up two wins and no losses on the day. After dropping their first set of the day to Liberty University, things turned around for Southern Utah. They came back to beat Liberty in four sets, and then ended the night with an electrifying five set victory against Air Force.

SUU 3, Liberty 1
Liberty came out firing to begin this match. Before long, they jumped ahead to 10-3 lead. They maintained a strong lead throughout the set quickly went up one set to zero winning the first set 25-14.

Despite a difficult first set, the Thunderbirds turned things around in the second. In a reversal of last set, Southern Utah quickly gained the advantage 10-3. Janet Kalaniuvalu, Macky Fifita, and Mckenzie Van Uitert led the offensive charge, each of them recording double digit kills. Liberty battled back to be down just one point at 19-18, but a couple errors from the Flames and kills from the Thunderbirds gave Southern Utah a commanding 25-19 win in the set.

The third set was the tipping point and climax of the match. Both teams struggled a little with keeping the ball in play with 10 errors from each side. The difference in this set was really just scrappy play from the Thunderbirds and stepping up on the big points. It required some extended play, but Southern Utah eventually pulled through 28-26.

Down two sets to one, Liberty stepped it up in the fourth. They put up a .258 hitting percentage along with only four errors. A few more errors and a couple less aces from the Thunderbirds made the difference in this set.

In the final set, Southern Utah just played better volleyball. They hit .250 on kill attempts and only had two errors compared to a .091 hitting percentage and six errors from the Flames. In a shortened fifth set, that advantage is all it takes. Fifita sealed the win for the Thunderbirds with a kill at 14-12.  

SUU 3, Air Force 2
Starting from the first point in this set things did not look good for the Thunderbirds. Air Force charged ahead to a 7-0 run right of the gates. After the big run from the Falcons things began to even out. Both teams were having a difficult time attacking the net and each had a negative hitting percentage for the set. Southern Utah clawed their way back and found things tied up at 23-23. Air Force, however, would not be denied claiming the next two points and the first set.

The quality of play started to pick up for both teams in the second set. MaCail Evans put up some great volleyball for the Thunderbirds. She hit at a .318 hitting percentage and hit 11 kills. Evans is not known for taking large numbers of attempts each match, but she is always putting up high percentages on the chances she does get. The set remained neck and neck until both teams we tied up at 22-22. At which point, Southern Utah went on a 3-0 run to claim the set.

The third set was really the time to shine for the Thunderbirds. The stat line was dominated by Fifita and Kalaniuvalu as they found their form at the net along with more solid play from Evans. Southern Utah ran away with this set winning 25-12.

The Thunderbirds rode the confidence they gained in the third set into the fourth. It looked as though they might wrap up a nice four set win when they pulled ahead 21-12. It was as this point, though, that Air Force turned things up to another level. The Falcons were led in this comeback by outside hitter, Piper Heineck. Heineck hit 20 kills for the match and recorded a .412 hitting percentage. After saving four set points in a row, Air Force finally tied things up at 25-25. They then took the next two points to force an unexpected fifth set.

The fifth set was no less exciting than the fourth. Fifita scored some clutch points with four kills in the set along with more help from Evans and Kalaniuvalu. Despite that, the Falcons found themselves up 14-12 with two match points. Then, the Thunderbirds took five of the next six points to win 17-15 in exciting fashion.

Moving Forward
Southern Utah will be looking to go undefeated at the tournament tomorrow. Their only match of the day will be versus Air Force. Match time is 2 p.m. MT.

Live Stats/Live Stream
Live video feed will be available for the match against Air Force.
The link will be available at Mountain West Network or at www.goairforcefalcons.com

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