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University of Utah
3
at
0
BYU - MWC Championship
NCAA Tourney Awaits Volleyball
11/26/2005 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 26, 2005
LAS VEGAS - The University of Utah (22-8) will make its eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance thanks to a 3-1 victory over No. 21-ranked Brigham Young (25-3) in the Mountain West Conference Tournament Championship match here tonight.
With the victory, the Utes win their fourth conference tournament title and receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament of 64.
Game scores were 30-22, 28-30, 30-23 and 30-26.
"I felt we had to earn every point in this match," head coach Beth Launiere said. "We never broke away and we came out and fought hard. I can't say enough about how this team continued to respond to the ups and downs that a young team goes through. We talked about beginning the season with an end in mind. This isn't the end for this team but winning the conference tournament was a goal of ours."
Utes making the all-tournament team were Airial Salvo, Shelly Sommerfeldt and Emillie Toone. Shannon Krug won the tournament's Most Outstanding Setter honor and Sommerfeldt won tournament MVP honors.
"Shelly (Sommerfeldt) played so well for us," Launiere said. "She was aggressive in all three matches and went out and took this tournament by storm. She was here to win and that was evident."
The Utes hit .226 for the match and were led by Salvo who hit .368. She tallied 16 kills on 38 swings. Shelly Sommerfeldt tied for match-high honors in recording 17 kills. Whitney Webb rounded out the Utes' kill leaders in posting 11 kills. She turned in the second double-double of her career with 11 digs as well.
Shannon Krug set the attack in dishing out 54 assists. She added four blocks and three digs to the effort.
Utah held one of the top hitting teams in the country to just .132 in out-blocking BYU, 18.5-10. Lori Baird led all players with nine blocks while Emillie Toone posted eight. Danielle Leichliter led the Utes in the back row with 12 digs.
The Utes will find out their NCAA Tournament fate when the selection show airs on ESPNews on Sunday, Nov. 27. The field will be announced between 12:30 and 1 p.m. (MST).
Players Mentioned
Utah Volleyball's Emrie Moea'i - ESPN+ Feature
Thursday, September 25
Hear It From Harlan featuring Utah Volleyball's Kamryn Gibadlo
Thursday, September 25
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Tony Caridi, voice of the West Virginia Mountaineers
Tuesday, September 23
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Urban Meyer
Wednesday, September 17