OGDEN, Utah – The Southern Utah Thunderbirds opened their season Friday at the Wildcat Invitational, facing off against UC Irvine and Nevada. The T-Birds fell to UC Irvine 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-13), and came up just short in a five-set heartbreaker against Nevada after jumping out to a 2-0 lead, ultimately losing 3-2 (26-24, 25-20, 25-21, 25-8, 15-8).

Coach Danielle Jensen Said

"We saw some positives to build on, but ultimately we didn't execute at the level we needed to. These early matches are learning opportunities, and we're focused on improving and coming back stronger next time."

Game 1 Summary vs. UC Irvine

Southern Utah dropped its first match of the season, falling in straight sets to a strong performance by UC Irvine. The Thunderbirds struggled offensively, finishing with a .021 hitting percentage, compared to the Anteaters' .226.

Despite tallying 24 kills, SUU was hampered by 22 attack errors on 96 attempts, averaging eight kills per set. The offense was led by 22 total assists, and the team committed no ball-handling errors.

Defensively, Southern Utah recorded 38 digs (12.7 per set) but couldn't keep pace at the net. The Thunderbirds managed just 3.0 total blocks—one solo and four assists—compared to 13 blocks (including six solo) from the Anteaters.

UC Irvine's offensive efficiency and dominant net play ultimately overpowered Southern Utah. The Anteaters turned their hitting (.226) and blocking (13 total) into a decisive edge. Southern Utah battled hard but struggled to find rhythm on offense or defensive consistency.

While the team showed grit and effort, the Thunderbirds will look to tighten up both sides of the game heading into their next matchup.

Game 2 Summary vs Nevada

Southern Utah fought a gritty five-set battle but ultimately came up short, falling 3-2 to Nevada. Despite strong stretches early, inconsistency down the stretch proved costly for the Thunderbirds.

SUU started strong, hitting .333 in the second set and .212 in the third, showing offensive rhythm and effective ball control. However, Southern Utah faltered late, managing just three kills in the fourth set and none in the fifth, hitting -.222 and -.375, respectively, to close the match.

As a team, SUU hit .101 overall, with 43 kills and 29 errors on 139 attempts. The offense was led by freshman outside hitter Amaya Tobias, who posted a team-high 11 kills on .350 hitting and added one solo block and three block assists for a total of 13.5 points.

Up Next

The Thunderbirds will look to bounce back against in-state rival Weber State tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. MT. SUU will aim to come out strong and notch their first win of the season. You can watch the game on ESPN+.

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Tickets are on sale now! The home opener is set for the second week of the season when the T-Birds host a tournament September 4-6. Get your tickets today by visiting tbirdtickets.com!

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