CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Southern Utah University women's volleyball team wrapped up its non-conference schedule on Saturday, Sept. 16 against Idaho, sweeping the Vandals in three sets. The victory improves SUU to 4-6 on the season, while Idaho falls to 1-11 on the year.
COACH KACEY NADY SAYS
"We are really proud of the way we responded as a group after last night. We did many things well: serving, passing, blocking, defending. Now our expectation is to keep the same hunger mentality moving into conference play."
WAC INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Molly McDermott and Andrea Spasojevic were named to the All-Tournament Team for their impressive play this weekend.
McDermott delivered consecutive remarkable performances, notching double-digit kills in back-to-back matches, with 14 against Marshall and 11 against Idaho.
Spasojevic was a force to be reckoned with on both offense and defense, amassing 13 kills and 17 digs against the Herd, as well as 11 kills and 12 digs versus the Vandals.
TOP T-BIRDS
MATCH RECAP
Southern Utah took a 7-3 lead to begin the match. The 'Birds stayed aggressive, relying on three kills from Andrea Spasojevic to mount a 10-4 run to push the lead to 17-7. Idaho attempted a late comeback, getting within four points (24-20) near the end of the set. The Thunderbirds never faltered, as they would go on to clinch the set 25-20.
Hana Makonova added two blocks and a kill to help Southern Utah jump out to an 8-3 lead in the second set. After the Vandals fought back to tie the set at 10-10, the 'Birds scored six of the next eight points to stay in front 16-12. Idaho rushed back with a 4-1 run to trim the lead to a single point (17-16). Southern Utah fired back, storming ahead with a ferocious 8-0 burst to clinch the set 25-16.
The Thunderbirds got off to a hot start once again, building a 6-2 advantage early in set three. Idaho came alive to briefly go up 11-10 midway through the set, but the Thunderbirds maintained composure. Molly McDermott sparked the offense with two big kills to initiate a 6-0 run that put SUU back in front by five (16-11). The Vandals wouldn't go away as they trimmed the 'Birds lead to only 19-18 late in the set. Southern Utah responded, as Spasojevic poured in three more kills to fuel a 6-1 run to win the set 25-19 and the match 3-0.
NOTABLE PLAYS
UP NEXT
Southern Utah opens Western Athletic Conference play next week against Grand Canyon at the America First Event Center. The match is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6:30 p.m. MT.
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