CEDAR CITY, Utah – Southern Utah volleyball will hit the road this weekend for another WAC contest, this time taking on Abilene Christian on Thursday, October 9th at 5:00 PM MT. The Thunderbirds look to continue their momentum and not their second conference win as they face a strong Wildcats squad.
Last Time Out
Southern Utah (2-12, 1-2) continues to show signs of growth as the Thunderbirds enter the heart of league play. SUU earned its first WAC victory of the season in a hard-fought contest against California Baptist.
Offensively, the Thunderbirds are averaging 10.4 kills per set, while hitting .134 as a team. Setting coordination has helped SUU post 526 assists this season, averaging nearly 9.6 per set. At the net, the team has tallied 109 total blocks, while defensively, SUU is collecting 11.6 per set. Defensively, they're holding opponents to a .198 hitting percentage and averaging 13.4 digs per set.
In their last outing, Southern Utah showed flashes of offensive efficiency, hitting .174 against California Baptist, an improvement over their season average of .134. While total kills per set were slightly below average, the Thunderbirds committed fewer errors relative to attempts, showing cleaner execution and resilience across a five-set match.
What to Watch
Thursday's content will be a battle of efficiency and composure. For SUU, minimizing attack errors and sustaining pressure from the service line will be pivotal. The Thunderbirds will aim to match ACU's offensive tempo while continuing to build on their own blocking and defensive systems that have shown steady improvement over recent weeks.
Southern Utah's balanced lineup will once again look for production across multiple hitters, supported by strong setting and back-row defense. In their most recent match, the Thunderbirds executed cleanly in long rallies and found success when keeping sets in system. Replicating early-set energy and consistency throughout the match will be the key against an Abilene Christian team that thrives on fast-paced attacks.
History
Southern Utah and Abilene Christian have met four times since their first matchup in 2022, with the all-time series tied at 2-2. The Thunderbirds have dominated at home with a perfect 2-0 record, while the Wildcats have taken both contests in Abilene. The Thunderbirds will look to bounce back this time around after dropping the most recent meeting on November 9, 2024, as they aim to regain the upper hand in this evenly matched WAC rivalry.
Coach's Corner
Head Coach Danielle Jensen said, "We're continuing to focus on execution and consistency. The team is starting to connect in key moments, and this match gives us another chance to step forward in conference play."
Game Information
Opponent: Abilene Christian Wildcats
Date/Time: Thursday, October 9 - 5 PM MT
Location: Moody Coliseum - Abilene, Texas
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: Here
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now! Get your tickets today by visiting tbirdtickets.com!
Follow Us
Stay up to date on the Thunderbirds Volleyball program by following @SUUVolleyball on Twitter and Instagram and liking the Southern Utah Volleyball page on Facebook.
Donate
To help support Thunderbirds athletics, consider donating today! To learn more about how you can support, click here.
