CEDAR CITY, Utah – Junior Audrey Atwood put down 18 kills and Southern Utah set season highs in kills, assists, digs and points, but Weber State earned a 3-1 Big Sky victory against the Thunderbirds on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the America First Event Center. Weber State won by set scores of 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-17, 28-26).
Southern Utah took the second set by two points and pushed the fourth past 25 before Weber State closed it out at 28-26.
Atwood Leads the Attack
Atwood led all players with 18 kills and 20 points on a team-high 57 attempts. She added eight digs and two solo blocks. The Idaho Falls, Idaho, native leads the Thunderbirds with 92 kills this season.
Junior Emilia Zug added 14 kills on .258 hitting. Junior Emilia Linden hit .333 with 10 kills. Junior Natalie Moore hit .312 with seven kills and two solo blocks, and junior Ryen Smith added eight kills.
Season Highs Across the Board
Southern Utah finished with 63 kills, 59 assists, 64 digs and 73 points, all season highs. The Thunderbirds' previous bests were 52 kills, 48 assists, 60 digs and 68 points, all from a five-set match against Pacific on Aug. 30. The 177 attack attempts were also a season high.
The Thunderbirds' best offensive sets came in the two closest frames. SUU hit .255 with 19 kills in its 25-23 second-set win, then recorded 20 kills in the 28-26 fourth set.
Setters Share the Load
Freshman Talea Berry finished with 27 assists and four digs. Junior Celeste Uruena Jensen added 24 assists and seven digs.
Back Row Digs In
Junior libero Kaitlyn Barnes led all players with 15 digs. Junior Zorana Stankovska added nine digs, and sophomore Amanda Mendoza posted eight digs and all four of SUU's service aces.
Head Coach Danielle Jensen After Tough Contest
Next Up
Southern Utah (1-15, 0-6 Big Sky) opens a two-match road trip at Montana on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. MT in Missoula, Mont. The Thunderbirds visit Montana State on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. MT in Bozeman, Mont.
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