CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University women's volleyball program travels to Texas for a pair of matches. First, the Thunderbirds will face Abilene Christian on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. MT. Then, SUU heads to Tarleton State on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 12 p.m. MT.

MATCH INFO

Southern Utah vs. Abilene Christian

• Date: Thursday, Oct. 5

• First Serve: 5 p.m. MT

• Live Stream | Live Stats

Southern Utah vs. Tarleton State

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 7

• First Serve: 12 p.m. MT

• Live Stream | Live Stats

HEAD COACH KACEY NADY SAYS

"The beauty of this conference is that every team is a competitor. Anyone can beat anyone; ACU and Tarleton have done well this year in their seasons. We respect them and at the same time can see flaws in their systems we are looking to expose."

TOP T-BIRDS

• The Thunderbirds utilize a balanced attack with Andrea Spasojevic (2.47), Hana Makonova (2.06), and Natasha Obradovic (1.98) leading the squad in kills per set.

• Teniyah Leuluai leads the squad and ranks seventh in the Western Athletic Conference with 7.72 assists each set.

• Spasojevic leads the defensive effort, racking up 3.20 digs a set.

• Molly McDermott ranks eighth overall in the WAC with 0.39 service aces each set.

LAST TIME OUT

Southern Utah vs. Utah Tech

Utah Tech took a 7-3 lead to begin the match. Southern Utah scored four of the next five to trim the lead to only one, 8-7. The Trailblazers used a 12-5 burst to claim an eight point advantage late in the set (20-12). Despite a pair of kills from both Hana Makonova and Teniyah Leuluai, Utah Tech would go on to claim the set 25-15.

The Trailblazers started hot once more, jumping out to a 10-4 lead. A kill and two serving aces from Andrea Spasojevic helped spark a 5-0 run to get SUU within a single point, 10-9. Utah Tech scored seven consecutive points to reassert its lead (17-9). Southern Utah never gave up, attempting a comeback that fell short as the Trailblazers won a close set 25-21.

The two squads found themselves tied at 8-8 to begin the third set. After the Trailblazers added a pair of points to retake the lead, the Thunderbirds went on a 6-1 sprint to go up 14-10 midway through. It wasn't enough in the end, as Utah Tech closed with a 15-7 run to seize the set 25-21 and the match 3-0.

SCOUTING REPORT: ABILENE CHRISTIAN WILDCATS

• The Wildcats own a 7-9 record with a 2-2 effort in WAC play. 

• ACU is coming off of a five-set victory over California Baptist.

• Allison Bryant pours in 3.53 kills per set.

• Megan Hodges dishes out 6.60 assists each set.

• Matti Theurer compiles 3.83 digs a set.

SCOUTING REPORT: TARLETON STATE TEXANS

• Tarleton has compiled a 11-7 start to the season with a 2-2 record in conference play. 

• The Texans will face Utah Tech earlier in the week before their matchup against the T-Birds.

• Ashli Edmiston averages 2.85 kills per set.

• Madeline Guffy records 8.98 assists each set.

• Sara Carrizales hustles defensively with 3.82 digs a set.

HISTORY

• Southern Utah leads the all-time series against Abilene Christian 1-0.

• Tarleton State owns a 1-0 record against the Thunderbirds after coming away with a narrow five-set victory last season.

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