CEDAR CITY, Utah - The Thunderbirds are coming off a road swing split in Texas last week and heading into their final two regular season matches. The T-Birds will host the UT Arlington Mavericks for senior night on Thursday, November 14, at 6:30 p.m. MT in the America First Event Center. Following that match, Southern Utah will hit the road to take on in-state rival Utah Valley on Saturday, November 16, at 12:00 p.m. MT.

Senior Night

Before Thursday's matchup against UT Arlington, Southern Utah University will celebrate an exceptional group of seniors who have left their mark on Thunderbird volleyball. 

#5 Carissa Richie (6'0" Middle Blocker, Minnetrista, Minnesota): A relentless force at the net, known for her powerful defense and game-changing blocks.

#6 Arianna Rossi (Defensive Specialist, Bergamo, Italy): Consistently anchors the back row with swift, tenacious play, embodying the heart of the team's defense.

#9 Teniyah Leuluai (5'10" Setter, West Jordan, Utah): Directs the Thunderbird offense with skillful precision and remarkable court awareness, setting up countless scoring opportunities.

#10 Kennady Charlton (6'1" Middle Blocker, Spanish Fork, Utah): A powerhouse in the middle, delivering key points and crucial defensive stops.

#23 Molly McDermott (6'0" Opposite Hitter, Palos Heights, Illinois): Showcases dynamic offensive power on the outside, making impactful plays at the net.

#15 Andrea Spasojevic (Outside Hitter, Graduate Student, Krusevac, Serbia): Adds a versatile edge with her skilled outside attacks, bringing experience and adaptability to the court.

This senior class has shown resilience, leadership, and passion, elevating SUU volleyball to new heights. 

Head Coach Kacey Nady Said:

"We are excited to honor our seniors who have dedicated so much of themselves to this program on Thursday. In addition, we are looking to execute parts of the game we have been prioritizing against two solid teams."

Top T-Birds

• Andrea Spasojevic leads the Thunderbirds in kills with 258, followed closely by Finley Charapata with 220.
• Spasojevic also leads the team in service aces with 29, followed by Teniyah Leuluai with 24.
• Teniyah Leuluai is the primary setter with 811 assists, while Nalani Muniz has 118 assists this season.
• Arianna Rossi sits atop the team leaderboard in digs with 293, and Carissa Richie tops the team in blocks with 81.0.

Last Time Out

The Southern Utah University women's volleyball team faced a tough five-set match against Abilene Christian, ultimately falling 3-2. This defeat brought the Thunderbirds to 6-8 in Western Athletic Conference play. 

Freshman Marlee Ervin had a standout performance, achieving a career-high 14 kills, while Teniyah Leuluai also excelled, setting a new career-high of 52 assists. Kennady Charlton contributed both offensively and defensively, posting 11 kills and a team-high five blocks. The match saw back-and-forth momentum, with Southern Utah battling to win the third and fourth sets before ultimately losing the decisive fifth set, where the Wildcats pulled ahead 15-8 to claim victory.

Scouting Report

UT Arlington Mavericks

• The Mavericks are sitting on top of the conference standings with an overall record of 24-2 with a perfect 14-0 mark in conference play. 
• The Mavericks already secured the regular season WAC Championship.
• Brianna Ford leads UT Arlington in kills with 391 and is also a standout across multiple categories, contributing 263 digs, 84 blocks, and 32 service aces, making her a versatile threat on the court.
• Mollie Blank is the team's primary setter with a team-high 959 assists, adding depth with 209 digs, 21 service aces, and 31 blocks.
• Paige Reagor dominates defensively at the net with 132 blocks while providing strong offensive support with 207 kills.
• Samantha Glenn leads the team in digs with 348 and adds to their serving game with 16 service aces, showcasing her defensive reliability.

Utah Valley Wolverines 

• Utah Valley is 17-9 on the year and 8-6 against WAC opponents. The Wolverines will host Tarleton State on Thursday evening before finishing the season against the Thunderbirds on Saturday.
• Sami Blackett leads UVU in kills with 383, followed by Avery Shewell with 347.
• Evalyn Chism is the primary setter with 979 assists, while Lani Matavao contributes 77 assists.
• Avery Shewell has the most service aces with 43, and Sami Blackett follows with 30.
• Lani Matavao leads in digs with 392, and Bella Wooden dominates in blocks with 164.0.

History

• Southern Utah is 0-3 against the Mavericks, with the last matchup being a 3-1 affair at the beginning of October. 
• The Thunderbirds are 2-12 all-time against the Wolverines. The last time the two teams met, UVU came out on top in a 3-1 battle in Cedar City on Halloween. 

Tickets

For single-game tickets, be sure to visit tbirdtickets.com.

Follow Us

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