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Southern Utah University Athletics

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SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
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3
Winner Weber State WSU 6-4 (1-0)
1
Southern Utah SUU 1-12 (0-1)
Winner
Weber State WSU
6-4 (1-0)
3
Final
1
Southern Utah SUU
1-12 (0-1)
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Weber State WSU 23 25 26 25 (3)
Southern Utah SUU 25 21 24 23 (1)

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

SUU Falls in Four Thrilling Sets to Weber State

CEDAR CITY, Utah -- The Southern Utah University Volleyball team opened up Big Sky Conference play at home by taking on cross-state rivals, the Weber State Wildcats, who the Thunderbirds fell to 3-1 after four nail-biting sets.

Mackenzie Dowell put on a show on both sides of the ball in tonight's home matchup. She posted an impressive .57 hitting percentage, 17 kills, one solo block, and three assisted blocks. Janet Kalaniuvalu lead the team in kills with 19. Miahna Waters and Thea Leiatuau were put through the fire tonight defensively as the Wildcats proved to attack offensively with power. Waters totalled 22 digs complimented by one service ace and Leiatuau added 15 digs of her own.

"We displayed some really great things during this match that we haven't seen all season," said head coach Pete Hoyer. "We are so proud of Mack Dowell tonight as she got right into rotation and took some really big rips for us that we have been wanting all season; our defense as well, especially in the fourth set with the long rallies, I'm proud of that too."

The Thunderbirds started the game on a 3-0 scoring run and continued to rack up massive plays from the defensive end with three beautiful blocks during the first set made by Miranda Canez and Mackenzie Dowell. Setter Alexis Averett saw the court well, placing textbook tips into the middle of the Wildcats defensive holes. SUU was able to control the intensity and momentum of the game, earning them a 25-23 set win to end the first.

The second set carried just as much energy as the first, as both teams were swinging away causing impressive kills and even more impressive blocks. Canez and Dowell continued to shine as both placed kills and blocks inside the Wildcats 10' line. The Thunderbirds had the a grip on the lead until the 17-17 point where the Wildcats were about to rally back and take the set 25-21.

The third set opened with one of the most suspenseful rallies yet. Dowell, yet again, put her volleyball IQ on display as she played the perfect ball in critical early in the set. The game tied on several occasions (6's, 11's, 17's, and 20's) due to pure defensive hustle on both teams. Several balls were played far outside the court lines, yet saved by a diving defender. Hustle pushed this set past the 25 point mark, and despite the digs, SUU lost the third 26-24, putting them down 2-1 in the match.

"We were able to stay in system and I felt good because my team felt good," said Dowell "We were playing with so much more confidence in hitting and had great ups, great sets, and served tough. Our goal the entire pre-season was to be ready for conference and I feel like we were able to get better tonight. We will learn from this."

Coming out as if the tough loss in the third never happened, Kalaniuvalu scored first for the third set in a row, boosting the Thunderbirds moral for what later turned into a heartbreaking final set. Anna Hopkins played well as she scored off a back to back block and kill putting the Thunderbirds up by 5. After Water's ace at the 20 point mark, SUU had extended their lead to the greatest of the night, at seven. It was after this serve that the Thunderbirds seemed to fall apart as the Wildcats went on a 12-3 scoring run, ending the set 25-20 and ending the match 3-1.

"We need to be able to sustain," said Hoyer when asked about what he would like change going into Saturday's match against Idaho State "We are given opportunities to close out a match and we need to find it within ourselves to close those situations. Our club can do it, I know we can."

The Thunderbirds can be seen next on Saturday September 22 as they face the Tigers of Idaho State University at 1 p.m. in the America First Event Center.
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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