Utah Volleyball Wins Four-Set Decision Over Utah Valley

Tuesday, August 31

Salt Lake City

7:00 PM

University of Utah

Utah Valley

Utah Volleyball Wins Four-Set Decision Over Utah Valley

8/31/2010 12:00 AM | Volleyball

Aug. 31, 2010

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Sarah Collette and Morgan Odale notched double-figures in kills to help the Utes gain a major advantage in hitting percentage as the University of Utah volleyball team won a four-set decision over Utah Valley (29-27, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21) Tuesday at Crimson Court.

"It was an up and down match," head coach Beth Launiere said. "We did a lot of good stuff and found a way to win. Every time you get in situations like that, you learn a lot. It would be nice if we could break away in points and try to play a little freer though. We've been battling every match this season so far, but that will come.

"I'm really excited about this team. We keep getting through those battles. The more you get into those battles, the better you will get."

Utah (2-1) limited UVU to a .140 hitting percentage while freshman libero Charlee Dyroff turned in a match-high 17 digs in her second career start, first at libero. At the net, Erin Redd had a team-high six blocks and Danielle Killpack had four.

"We got into the gym and in practice we did all blocking and defensive work," Launiere said. "I really felt we made some progress in that area so I'm pleased with that."

Senior opposite hitter Karolina Bartkowiak had an impressive all-around performance with 13 digs to go with nine kills.

Morgan Odale had a team-high 19 kills on a .298 hitting percentage to go along with nine digs.

Collette registered an impressive performance in all phases of the game with 10 kills, five digs and two blocks.

Redshirt freshman Brooke McAlister and true freshman Nikki Sim made their Ute debuts. McAlister came up with the first two kills of her career, including the kill to clinch the match. Sim was credited with two digs in the back row of the Ute defense.

There were nine ties and Utah never led by more than three points in the opening set. Utah was ahead 23-21 until Utah Valley went on a 3-1 stretch to tie the set at 24 points apiece. There were 12 ties and five lead changes in the opening set alone. The Utes outhit UVU in the set, .286 to .233, and Morgan Odale hit for five kills on a .333 hitting percentage to got with three digs. Redd added four kills and two blocks, while Dyroff guided the back row of the Ute defense with five digs.

The teams traded runs to open the second set as UVU took the first four points then Utah roared back by taking six points in a row. UVU managed to climb to a 7-6 lead before the Utes scored four consecutive points to assume a 10-7 edge. Momentum would continue to shift between the teams in the set as the score would be tied 10 more times before the Wolverines gained a block and a kill to clinch a 25-23 win in the second set. Bartkowiak had four kills and three digs in the set and the Utes outhit the Wolverines, .216 to .195, and held a 3-1 advantage in blocking.

After the third set was tied a 2-2, Utah pieced together five consecutive points to assume a 7-2 edge. Behind 14-10, the Wolverines put together a 6-1 run to take its first lead of the set, 16-15. The set would be tied four more times before a UVU attack error and a Morgan Odale kill put the Utes up, 23-21. A UVU attack error and a kill by Collette gave the Utes the 25-22 victory to take a 2-1 edge in the match. The Utah defense limited Utah Valley to a .059 hitting percentage in the set. Bartkowiak and Dyroff pitched in five digs apiece. Offensively, Morgan Odale had five more kills and Collette had four more.

Consecutive service aces Kathleen Stevens put UVU up 3-1 early in the fourth set and the Wolverines would extend their lead to four points at 11-7. The Utes would manage to tie the set against at 17 points apiece and would eventually take a 19-18 lead after a block by Killpack and Morgan Odale, which was part of a 4-0 run that gave the Utes control of the set en route to a 25-21 win to clinch the match. Morgan Odale had six more kills on eight swings for a .750 hitting percentage in the set and Killpack had three blocks.

Senior libero Keisha Fisher missed the first match of her career at Utah (concussion).

The Utes own a 7-1 all-time advantage in the all-time series against Utah Valley, including a 5-0 mark at Crimson Court.

Utah Valley (0-4) was led by a match-high-tying 19 kills from Kayli Doxey, who had also had five digs.

The Utes take to the road for the first time this season as they head to the Northwestern Challenge Friday and Saturday, beginning Friday against Morehead State at 4:30 p.m. CT.