CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah Volleyball came up short in a tightly contested match on Saturday afternoon, falling to Charleston Southern in five sets (24-26, 25-20, 25-21, 20-25, 7-15) at the America First Event Center. Despite the loss, the Thunderbirds continue to show marked improvement, pushing the match to the limit and showcasing a new level of intensity and grit.

Southern Utah Standouts

Southern Utah was led by senior hitter Victoria Zibecchi, who finished with 14 kills, adding a solid presence on offense. Addyson McArthur contributed significantly, recording 12 kills. Asya Akbulut posted 30 assists, keeping the offense running smoothly, and Kaitlyn Hoelker added 10 kills.

On the defensive side, Swayzee Mason registered 16 digs, while Aleeya Jones contributed six.

Southern Utah continues the search for its first win of the season. This match shows they are capable of competing at a high level, especially as they inch closer to conference play.

Charleston Southern Standouts

The Buccaneers were led by outside hitter Skylar Yates, who finished with 15 kills, providing a constant threat at the net. Emily Struckmeyer was efficient in her attacking, recording 10 kills on 17 attempts. Emma Bednarek was another standout for the Buccaneers, contributing 11 kills.

Defensively, Sophia Kluska had a solid contribution with 13 digs, while Tristan Sutton dished out 41 assists.

Charleston Southern moves to 3-3, continuing their non-conference play with a key win on the road.

Coach Jensen Said

"It's tough to walk away with a loss, especially in a five-set battle like that. We've made real progress. You could see it in the fight, the execution, and the chemistry. But at the end of the day, we wanted to win, and we fell short. We'll take the lessons, keep building, and be ready next time."

Up Next

The Thunderbirds get six days of rest before they take on Texas Tech in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Friday, September 12th.

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