UVU WVB: In a Tough Match with Utah, UVU Falls 3-1 Add Comment    Sep 19, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY - In an thrilling four-set match with Utah Tuesday night at Crimson Court, the Utah Valley University women's volleyball ended up on the wrong end of 3-1 decision (27-29, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25).

"It's always good to play Utah, it's always good to play in-state teams," UVU head coach Sam Atoa said. "Utah played well tonight, which was unfortunate as I felt that we had some good opportunities to win. We hope that we can continue to give ourselves those same opportunities. Overall I felt that we stepped up our game from where it was last weekend and it will only continue to get better."

In a very close first set, Utah had a chance to put it away up 24-22. UVU countered on set-point with a big block by junior Chelsey Heaps and senior Dani Robison and followed it with another point to tie the score at 24. With the momentum now in the Wolverines favor, Robison came up with a big kill to put her team up 25-24. With Utah on the ropes, UVU had a couple of set-point chances of its own but it just couldn't capitalize as Utah managed to pull ahead and win 29-27, scoring the final point on a service ace.

Doxey had a big first set for UVU as she paced the Wolverines in scoring with 10 kills. Freshman setter Brookelyn Campbell had a solid set as well as she dished out 14 assists.

In the second set, UVU came up looking very strong as they took a 4-0 advantage. Utah then rolled off six unanswered points to go up 6-4. With Utah leading 13-11, UVU got hot as they scored six of the next eight points to go up 17-15. Utah immediately responded, as it scored the next three points to go up 18-17.

Following an Atoa timeout, the Wolverines responded as they came back and tied it at 20 on back-to-back kills from Robison and Doxey. With the Wolverines on top 22-21, Utah rallied to score the next two points to take a 23-22 lead. UVU came right back, scoring the next two points, one on a Campbell kill and the other on a sophomore Erica Nish block to set up UVU set-point at 24-23. On a long final rally, UVU initially set up junior Jaicee Kuresa for the final attack and she did not disappoint as she scored the kill to give the Wolverines set number two, 25-23.

With the Utes up by as many as five early in the third set, UVU slowly battled back and eventually took its first lead of the set at 16-15 on a Utah attack error. UVU then took its largest lead of the set at 20-18 but Utah came right back and eventually took a 23-21 advantage on a Morgan Odale kill. The Wolverines cut it to 23-22 on a Doxey kill, but Utah followed by scoring the next two points to win the third set, 25-22.

In a must win fourth set, UVU went up early by a score of 3-1 on consecutive service aces from senior Kathleen Stevens. Following a couple of big blocks by the Wolverines, Doxey scored a kill of her own to put UVU up 10-6. Later in the set with the score tied at 17-all, Doxey came up another big kill to put UVU up 18-17. The Utes then answered, scoring the four of the next five points to take a 21-18 lead. The Wolverines responded though as they cut the deficit to 21-20 on a Heaps kill. Utah scored the next three points to lead 24-20. With the match on the line, UVU fought as they scored the next point but Utah was too much as Brooke McAllister scored the final kill of the match for Utah as they won the final set, 25-21.

Doxey led UVU offensively on the night with 19 kills and Campbell had a great match as she finished with a match high 43 assists.

The Wolverines will next have their first home matches of the season when they host Air Force Friday at 4 p.m. and Fresno State Saturday at 1 p.m. Both matches will be televised locally on UVU-TV.

"We're excited about playing at home and on TV this weekend," Atoa added. "Anytime you have your own crowd behind you it definitely helps."

-Utah College Sports News staff and wire reports

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Utah College Sports Wire