CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah volleyball (2-17, 1-7 WAC) will be on the road again, this time facing Utah Tech (15-5, 6-2 WAC) on Saturday night. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. MT. The matchup marks the second meeting between the two teams this season.
Last Time Out
Southern Utah came out hot in the opening set, taking a 5-2 lead behind a service ace from Asya Akbulut and kills by Victoria Zibecchi and Kaitlyn Hoelker. The Thunderbirds held that lead briefly, with Ezgi Kucuk and Amaya Tobias adding kills. Utah Valley quickly turned the tide, going on a 12-4 run to take a 20-12 advantage. Southern Utah showed resilience as Hoelker and Addyson McArthur each recorded kills, and Tobias added a service ace to cut the deficit to seven. The Wolverines proved too strong, however, closing out the set 25-19.
Utah Valley carried its momentum into the second set, jumping out to a 10-3 lead. Southern Utah responded with a 3-0 run behind a pair of Wolverine errors and a kill from Tobias. The teams traded points midway through the frame before Utah Valley finished on an 11-2 run to win 25-12.
The struggles continued for Southern Utah in the third set, as Utah Valley opened with a 7-1 lead. Kills by Kaitlyn Aleshire and Zibecchi trimmed the deficit to four, and Tobias added both a kill and an ace to bring the Thunderbirds within 12-7. Utah Valley answered with a 9-2 run to extend its lead to 21-9. The Thunderbirds couldn't recover, falling 25-13 in the final set.
Thunderbirds Standouts
Scouting the Trailblazers
Utah Tech's offense features a balanced attack led by Casidy Fried and Taylor Snow. Fried ranks among the WAC leaders in hitting percentage at .323, while Snow is second on the team in kills with 138 on the season. As a team, the Trailblazers are hitting .224 on the season.
Utah Tech features two of the top five blockers in the conference. Cassidy Fried (94) and Taylor Snow (90). Mya Laufiso anchors the defense, averaging 3.67 digs per set. The Trailblazers hold opponents to a .154 hitting percentage on the season. For Southern Utah, it will be crucial to capitalize on Utah Tech's errors and sustain momentum throughout the match.
Head Coach Danielle Jensen
"Utah Tech has a strong lineup that plays with a lot of energy," head coach Danielle Jensen said. "We're excited for the opportunity to compete and continue taking steps forward."
Game Information
Opponent: Utah Tech Trailblazers
Date/Time: Saturday, November 1 - 7:00 PM MT
Location: Burns Arena - St. George, Utah
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Here
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