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Southern Utah University Athletics

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SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
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3
Winner Portland State PSU 4-19 (3-8 BSC)
0
Southern Utah SUU 3-20 (2-9 BSC)
Winner
Portland State PSU
4-19 (3-8 BSC)
3
Final
0
Southern Utah SUU
3-20 (2-9 BSC)
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Portland State PSU 25 26 25 (3)
Southern Utah SUU 23 24 17 (0)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Taylor Whitson - SUU Athletics Strategic Communication

Vikings Take Thunderbirds in Three Sets

RECAP | Vikings Take the Thunderbirds in Three Sets

CEDAR CITY, Utah -- The Southern Utah University volleyball team lost to the Portland State Vikings 3-0 on Thursday evening.

Emma Mangum led the offense from the right side for the Thunderbirds with 13 kills, followed by Janet Kalaniuvalu who had 11. Miahna Waters led defensively with 18 digs on the evening. Alexis Averett captained the Thunderbirds offense with 35 assists and also chipped in two blocks.

"You can't win a volleyball game without outside hitters," said head coach Pete Hoyer. "I am not happy with this performance and we have to find a way to come out mentally tougher and make some big changes going into Saturday."

The first set opened up for the Thunderbirds after Kalaniuvalu started a 6-1 scoring run that put SUU up 9-5. Two service errors and a series of unplayable passes allowed the Vikings to creep back and knot the score at 17. Toni Mcdougald put away the first ball of the Vikings 5-1 run to put them in the lead 21-18. Mckenzie Dowell's kill earned a side out for the Thunderbirds but was quickly given back after a kill from Jenna Mullen. Canez brought the Thunderbirds within reach with a block and a kill but the push wasn't enough as the Vikings took the first set 25-23.

During the second set Anna Hopkins returned to play after missing several games due to injury. Hopkins added a block and a kill early in the set to help put the Thunderbirds in the lead at 11-7. Long rallies took the set to 18-18. Mangum broke the tie with a right side kill which kept SUU in the lead until 22-22. A kill from Peyton Mcbride gave PSU the advantage at 23-22. The Thunderbirds fought back to tie at 24, but a tip put the Vikings up by one, serving for match point. A final block earned the Vikings their second set win at 26-24.

Hoyer called a timeout early in the third as the Thunderbirds were down 7-1. Mangum snapped the Thunderbirds cold streak with a three kills in a row from the right side pulling SUU with four at 10-6. Hopkins made a late statement with two kills in a row in effort to close the large gap between the Thunderbirds and the Vikings at 22-14. Vikings took the set 25-17, concluding the match with a 3-0 sweep over the Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds are now 3-20 on the season and 2-9 in Big Sky Conference play.

SUU will play again Saturday, October 27 as they face the Hornets of Sacramento State University at 1 p.m. in Cedar City, Utah.
Stay updated on the Thunderbirds 24/7 by following @SUUVolleyball on Twitter and Instagram along with liking the Southern Utah Volleyball page on Facebook.




 
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