After narrowly forcing a fourth set, the Southern Utah University volleyball team fell at home in the America First Event Center on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Thunderbirds built a five-point lead in the third set but ultimately lost the match 3-0 to the University of Northern Colorado.
The Thunderbirds now fall to 1-13 overall. In Big Sky Conference play, they are 0-4. The Bears elevate to 7-8 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.
First and second sets
While the first set started fairly evenly with a 3-2 Colorado lead, the Bears went on a commanding 8-0 run to make it 11-2. In the first set, Northern Colorado hit 82.4% and committed no attack errors. The Thunderbirds lost the opening bout 25-10.
In the second set, the Bears got off to a 10-4 start. Ryen Smith came up big for the T-Birds with a kill that started a 4-0 run that cut the lead to two. Northern Colorado then went on a 3-0 run, and they were able to maintain the momentum and win the set 25-15.
Third set
To open the frame, Audrey Atwood and Julia Roncero-Ribas both had kills to ignite a 6-1 SUU run. The Bears fought back, but an Atwood ace and a Smith kill helped the T-Birds hold a 9-4 lead. The Bears were able to slowly chip away at the lead and tie the set at 12-12.
Southern Utah was able to take the lead back with two Smith kills. Colorado went on a 5-0 run to go up 22-19, while Southern Utah managed to put up two more points; the Bears were able to match that. On the next rally, UNC closed out the match, winning 25-21 and narrowly earning the 3-0 victory.
Top T-Birds
— Ryen Smith led the team with nine kills and a 17.4% hitting percentage. She also had a dig and a service ace.
— Talea Berry was second on the team with eight assists and tied for the lead with six digs. She didn’t commit a single error.
— Celeste Uruena Jensen posted a squad-leading nine assists along with three digs. She also didn’t commit any errors.
— Emilia Linden was the only player besides Smith to record a positive hitting percentage. She had two kills, two service aces and the team’s only solo block.
— Audrey Atwood recorded four kills, two assists and two service aces.
What’s next?
Southern Utah will stay at home to face Idaho State University in the America First Event Center on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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Author: Andrew Streeter
Photo by SUU Athletics
Editor: Payson Davis
