Southern Utah University volleyball was back home for the first time in two weeks and split games against Utah Valley University and Seattle University. SUU fell to UVU 3-1 on Thursday, Oct. 31, but bounced back against Seattle University, coming out on top 3-0 on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Game one
Southern Utah started out on top early in the first set against Utah Valley taking an 11-9 lead. Utah Valley would then go on a 16-6 run to take the first set 25-17. Sami Blackett led the way for the Wolverines with six kills in the set.
UVU was in control for most of set two. Utah Valley got out to a quick 11-4 lead and never let up. Southern Utah struggled to keep the set close because of their -.094 kill percentage. SUU got the score to within six but UVU prevailed, winning set two 25-16.
Set three was much closer with both teams trading the lead. Southern Utah was up midway through the set 14-11. SUU continued to cling onto the lead, being up 23-19 and kills from Kennady Charlton and Marlee Ervin finished gave SUU the 25-22 lead.
Once again set four was close with both teams going back-and-forth. Utah Valley led late 22-19 before Southern Utah made a late run tying the game at 23. A service error from Ervin and a service ace from Avery Shewell gave UVU the 25-23 set win and won the match 3-1.
Game two
After losing six-straight games, Southern Utah looked to bounce back against Seattle U. SUU led early but a SU 7-0 run gave the Redhawks the 14-13 lead. After trading the lead for the next several points. Southern Utah finished on a 5-1 run to give the Thunderbirds the 25-22 set one win.
After Seattle U scored the first point of the set, SUU never let SU see the lead again. Five kills from Finley Charapata helped give Southern Utah the 25-20 set two win and moved one set closer to the 3-0 sweep.
Set three was close in the beginning with both teams neck-and-neck. After Southern Utah took a 10-8 lead, the Thunderbirds went on an 8-0 run to separate themselves from the Redhawks. Seattle scored four points late but a Katlyn Sipes service error led to the 25-17 set win and the 3-0 sweep.
With the week split, Southern Utah is now 9-14 overall and 5-7 in the Western Athletic Conference.
What’s next?
Southern Utah will travel to Texas to take on Tarleton State University on Thursday Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. This game can be streamed on ESPN+.
Author: Jack Paul
Photographer: Gannon Lovisa
Editor: Michele Fogg
