Southern Utah University Athletics

RECAP | Thunderbirds Take Down Grizzlies for Third Win In Last Four Matches

CEDAR CITY, Utah -- The Thunderbird volleyball program closed out their Thursday evening match with a 3-1 win over the Montana Grizzlies. SUU is now 10-7 overall and 3-2 in the Big Sky Conference. The team's 10 wins give them the first season with double-digit wins since 2015 when they finished the season 15-15.

"We played yet another match where we had to have grit and fight one point at a time," said head coach Pete Hoyer. "I am proud of this team and we are looking forward to a competitive match Saturday against a very well-coached team in Montana State."    

Shannon Webb led SUU offensively with 20 kills followed by Madison Williams who had 13 kills. Raegan Ashby tallied nine blocks on the evening, a season-high for the freshman. Corrin Peterson totaled 40 assists. Thea Leiataua led defensively with 15 digs, followed by Webb who had 14.

The Thunderbirds came out of the gate strong as they went up by five over the Grizzlies at the 10 point mark. SUU extended their lead to seven at 13-6 where Montana called a timeout. Coming out of the timeout the Grizzlies were able to tack on three more taking the score to 14-9  before a kill from Shannon Webb earned the Thunderbirds a side out. SUU ran their lead back up to seven at 17-10. Four T-Bird errors allowed the Grizzlies to come back at 19-15. A kill from Madison Williams gave the ball back to the Thunderbirds and they scored two more before Montana called their second timeout of the set. Williams came out of the timeout serving her second ace of the set, putting the score at 23-15. The final point for the Thunderbirds came from Webb as she put the set away at 25-16. 

Montana took their first lead of the match at 6-5 in the second set but a service ace from Alexis Averett knotted the score at 6-6. The Grizzlies answered back by putting up two more on the Thunderbirds before a kill from Williams earned the T-Birds a point at side out. The score knotted again at 8-8. SUU's comeback effort resulted in a 14-11 lead where Montana called their first timeout of the set. Coming out of the timeout Webb served an ace. A kill from Williams pushed SUU to the 20 point mark where they led the Grizzlies by four. The Grizzlies fought their way to knot the score at 21-21 where SUU called their first timeout of the set. After the break, Montana went up by two and SUU called their second timeout of the set. Webb sent a kill down the tape but Montana answered with a kill of their own making it set point - Montana. The Grizzlies took the set 25-22. 

The third set began with Montana leading the Thunderbirds but SUU was quick to comeback at 9-6 after an ace from Montgomery. The T-Birds continued to distance themselves from the Grizzlies as they pulled away by five at 14-9 where Montana called their first timeout of the set. SUU came out of the break and went on a 3-0 scoring run. The Grizzlies answered back by scoring five of their own. The T-Birds called a timeout in the middle of Montana's run at 17-14. The Grizzlies came out of the timeout by scoring two more, extending their scoring run to 7-0 and coming within one of SUU. The Thunderbirds ran with the set, earning the win at 25-20.

The fourth set started close as the score knotted five times before the 10 point mark. The lead continued to bounce and back and forth until SUU went on a 3-1 scoring run, going up 18-15 over the Grizzlies. The Thunderbirds closed the set at 25-18, taking the match 3-1. 

Next Up

The Thunderbirds will face the Bobcats of Montana State University on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. MT. 

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