BERKELEY/MORAGA, Calif. - The Southern Utah University women's volleyball team competed in two matches on Friday Sept. 1, falling to Portland State in three sets before coming up short against Saint Mary's College of California in four hard fought sets. The Thunderbirds move to 2-3 on the season, while the Vikings improve to 3-1 and the Gaels to 4-0 overall.
Individual Leaders vs. Portland State
The Thunderbirds spread the attack evenly, with Hana Makonova (8), Natasha Obradovic (8), and Andrea Spasojevic (7) leading the team in kills. Teniyah Leuluai served as the 'Birds main distributor, dishing out 20 assists over the three sets. Molly McDermott showed her prowess on the serve, racking up four aces.
Calli Johnson helped bolster the defense with a team-high 18 digs. McDermott protected the net, tallying three blocks to lead the Thunderbirds.
Individual Leaders vs. Saint Mary's
Makonova proved to be a force to be reckoned with offensively, leading the squad with 10 kills. McDermott (9) and Obradovic (7) helped fuel the offense with kills of their own. Leuluai found her teammates, picking up 25 assists to go along with nine digs.
Spasojevic led the Thunderbirds with 11 digs, while Carissa Richie totaled a team-high four blocks.
MATCH RECAPS
SOUTHERN UTAH vs. PORTLAND STATE
The Vikings took a 7-4 lead to begin the first set. Carissa Richie added a kill and a block to help Southern Utah trim the lead to only two (10-8). The two squads traded points for points, as Portland State held a 17-15 advantage late in the set. The Vikings used a 8-1 run to claim set one 25-16.
Portland State jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in set two. Molly McDermott added three aces and a kill to jumpstart a 8-2 run for SUU, as the 'Birds cut the Vikings lead to only one, 9-8. SUU kept its foot on the gas, taking a 16-12 lead midway through the set. That was as close as the Thunderbirds would get, as the Vikings came back to win the set 25-20.
SUU scored the first three points to start set three. Portland State responded with a 9-1 sprint to retake the lead. The Thunderbirds fought back, relying on three kills from Natasha Obradovic to get within one (9-8). Southern Utah matched the Vikings point for point, trailing 14-13 midway through the set. PSU used a 4-1 run to extend its lead, never looking back as the Vikings won the set 25-18 and the match 3-0.
SOUTHERN UTAH vs. SAINT MARY'S
Southern Utah took a 6-5 lead in the first set. Saint Mary's fired off five straight points to jump in front 10-6. The Gaels pressed their advantage, going up 17-11 towards the end of the match. The Thunderbirds used a 6-3 push to get within three points (20-17), but the Gaels were able to pull away and win the set 25-19.
The 'Birds started set two strong, building a 4-1 advantage. The Gaels replied with a 5-2 burst to tie the set at 6-6. Saint Mary's scored five of the next six points to take a four point lead (11-7). The T-Birds battled back to cut the Gael's advantage to only two, 17-15, but that was the closest they would get. Saint Mary's scored eight of the next 12 points to take the set 25-19.
The two squads would split the first 20 points of set three, finding themselves tied at 10-10. Natasha Obradovic and Hana Makonova each added to kills to help the Thunderbirds sprint ahead with a 9-1 run to claim a commanding 19-11 lead. Southern Utah finished strong, with Molly McDermott delivering the set clinching kill, seizing the third set 25-20.
Saint Mary's took a 10-1 advantage to begin the final set. McDermott and Makonova each added two kills during the fourth set, but it wasn't enough. The lead proved insurmountable, as the Gaels would go on to win the set 25-13 and the match 3-1.
UP NEXT
Southern Utah continues its road trip tomorrow on Saturday, Sept. 2 against California. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. MT.
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