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7:00 PM
Volleyball
at Arizona
Saturday, August 26
Gainsville, Fla.
7:00 PM
University of Utah
1
at
3
Florida (Aquafina Invitational)
No. 5 Florida Tops Volleyball in Four
8/26/2006 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 26, 2006
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Utah volleyball team (1-1 overall) dropped its first match of the season on a 3-1 loss to the No. 5-ranked Florida Gators here in the Aquafina Invitational this evening.
Game scores were 30-25, 33-35, 32-30 and 30-26. Florida out-hit Utah .232-.199 but Utah led at the net by out-blocking its rivals, 16-13.
Airial Salvo and Emillie Toone were named to the all-tournament team in leading Utah all weekend. Salvo averaged an eye-popping 5.29 kills and 3.00 digs per game over the two matches. Meanwhile, Toone had 2.43 kills and 1.86 blocks during the tourney.
"We got ourselves into a two-hour, 20-minute battle in one of the toughest places to play in the country," said head coach Beth Launiere. "It was a back-and-forth match all night long and it was a great learning experience for our team, especially this early in the season."
Three double-doubles highlighted the Utes' efforts this evening. Airial Salvo had a 19-kill, 13-dig effort and Whitney Webb had an 11-kill, 12-dig outing. The third double-double went to freshman setter Sydney Anderson. She had a match-high 56 assists to go along with 14 digs.
Two other Utes had double-digit kills tonight. Kathryn Lovell added 13 kills and Emillie Toone tallied 12..
"Airial Salvo was our go-to player all night and I thought Whitney Webb had a good match for us too," said Launiere. "She came out and was competitive and got some timely kills for us."
The offense ran through Anderson and her 56 assists, guiding Utah to .199 hitting. Utah hit a match-best .333 in the second frame when it topped the Gators, 35-33. Other than that, it never hit better than .174 in the other three games.
Toone led the block as she nearly had a double-double of her own. She recorded a match-high eight total blocks to go along with her 12 kills. Lori Baird helped out with seven blocks while Anderson chimed in with six and Salvo with five.
Connie Dangerfield led the defense from the back row in tallying a team-high 19 digs. She was one of four Utes with double-digit digs. Anderson (14 digs), Salvo (13), and Webb (12) were all instrumental in the team's 79 digs tonight. Florida held the edge in the digs category with 84 of its own.
Florida was led Marcie Hampton (25 kills) and was one of five Gators with double-digit kills. Also pacing UF was Angie McGinnis (56 assists), Elyse Cusack (26 digs) while two Gators had a team-high five total blocks.
The Utes return to the court to complete their five-match, season-opening road swing. They will play three matches from Sept. 1-3 against North Carolina, No. 14 USC and Fresno State.
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