Utes Lose Heartbreaker to CSU in Four Games

Sunday, October 26

Fort Collins, Colo.

4:00 PM

University of Utah

Colorado State

10/26/2003 12:00 AM | Volleyball

Oct. 26, 2003

Box Score

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Utah volleyball team dropped a four-game heartbreaker (25-30, 29-31, 30-22, 29-31) to league-leader Colorado State at Moby Arena this evening. With the loss, the Utes fall to 13-7 overall and 7-2 in Mountain West Conference play. The Utes hit for .214 on the match, compared to the .160 of the Rams. Utah also out-blocked the Rams 18-12.

"I can't be upset with the way we played - we played well against a great team at their place," Head Coach Beth Launiere said. "We're going to build from this for the stretch run."

Sophomore Shelly Sommerfeldt led Utah with 18 kills. Senior All-America candidate Kim Turner, junior Lyndsey Henderson and sophomore Danielle Leichliter added 11 kills apiece.

Freshman Amie Toone had a career-high 10 blocks, while Turner added seven and Henderson had six. "What a great match for Amie as a role player for us," Launiere said. "She was incredible."

Junior setter Kelsie Kartchner, who started as outside hitter and switched to setter in game two, finished with 30 assists, eight digs, four blocks and three kills. Junior Tracy Neumeier, who played in just two games, had 16 assists.

"Tracy struggled this weekend," Launiere said. "It was the first time in eight matches that she has. Kelsie did a great job of coming in and running the offense after not having played that position in some time."

Senior libero Jackie Morrill posted a match-high 19 digs, while freshman Connie Dangerfield had nine.

After a close start, Colorado State took its first lead in game one at 9-8 and maintained it for the remainder of the game, winning by five, 30-25. The Utes hit for .184 on the game, compared to the .306 of the Rams. Turner and Henderson tallied five kills apiece to lead Utah.

Game two went back and forth. Utah jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but CSU used a 4-0 run to tie it at seven. The Utes answered by scoring seven straight points to take a 15-9 lead. The Rams then outscored Utah 12-6 to tie it at 21. Both teams then battled back and forth for the remainder of the game before the Rams pulled out the 31-29 win. Utah out-blocked CSU 6-3 on the game, but was out-hit .180 to .167. Sommerfeldt led the Utes with four kills.

After an early deficit, Utah outscored the Rams 7-1 to take an 8-4 lead in game three. CSU cut the Utah lead to one three times before the Utes rattled off four straight points to take a seven-point (21-14) lead. Utah maintained that lead for the remainder of the game, winning 30-22. The Utes hit for .400 on the game and held the Rams to just.024. Sommerfeldt led Utah with five kills.

Game four was close throughout, with no team leading by more than two throughout the first half. But CSU used a 6-0 run to take a four-point lead (22-18). Utah battled back, though, tying it at 25 apiece. Both teams then battled back and forth for the remainder of the game. Utah had game point on two occasions, but the Rams scored the last four points for the 31-29 win. Utah hit for .146 on the game, while CSU posted a .148 hitting percentage.

UP NEXT:
Utah hosts Air Force and New Mexico next Friday and Saturday, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.