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7:00 PM
Volleyball
at Arizona
Saturday, August 25
Salt Lake City, UT
7:00 PM
University of Utah
2-1
3
vs
2
Denver
2-1
1
2
3
4
5
F
Denver
25
21
20
25
14
2
Utah
23
25
25
23
16
3
No. 19 Utes Win Utah Classic
8/25/2018 10:59 PM | Volleyball
Senior Lauga Gauta Named Tournament MVP
SALT LAKE CITY – With their backs against the wall, No. 19 Utah closed the match on a 5-1 run in the fifth set to beat Denver and win the 2018 Utah Volleyball Classic in the Huntsman Center.
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Dani Drews led the team with 24 kills and capped off her second double-double of the day with 15 digs, but everyone contributed to get this win.
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Senior Lauga Gauta, the tournament MVP, also finished the match with a double-double with 17 kills and 15 digs.
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Trailing 13-11 in the fifth set, head coach Beth Launiere used her final timeout and the team responded by winning the next two points on kills from Gauta and freshman Kennedi Evans.
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After a Denver timeout, the Pioneers won the point to break the tie and have a match point, but the Utes answered to win the final three points to clinch the match with a 16-14 victory.
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The fifth set wasn't the only time that Utah showed resiliency in the match. After dropping the first set, the Utes got some momentum by running off seven straight points in the second set to go up 12-7. Denver fought back, but Utah closed it out 25-21 and evened the match up.
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Utah grabbed the lead in the match by winning the third set. With the score tied at 17, the Utes went on an 8-3 run to win the set 25-20. The team had 17 kills in the third set.
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In the fourth set, the Utes had the lead late at 22-20, but the Pioneers won four straight points. Utah saved one set point, but couldn't save another pushing the match to a fifth set to setup the thrilling comeback.
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Phoebe Grace finished the match with 13 kills and zero errors. She hit .565 for the match.
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Utah will now hit the road for the first time and travel to Montana next weekend for the Montana Invitational. The Utes first match next weekend is against the host team on Friday, August 31 at 10 a.m.
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Dani Drews led the team with 24 kills and capped off her second double-double of the day with 15 digs, but everyone contributed to get this win.
Â
Senior Lauga Gauta, the tournament MVP, also finished the match with a double-double with 17 kills and 15 digs.
Â
Trailing 13-11 in the fifth set, head coach Beth Launiere used her final timeout and the team responded by winning the next two points on kills from Gauta and freshman Kennedi Evans.
Â
After a Denver timeout, the Pioneers won the point to break the tie and have a match point, but the Utes answered to win the final three points to clinch the match with a 16-14 victory.
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The fifth set wasn't the only time that Utah showed resiliency in the match. After dropping the first set, the Utes got some momentum by running off seven straight points in the second set to go up 12-7. Denver fought back, but Utah closed it out 25-21 and evened the match up.
Â
Utah grabbed the lead in the match by winning the third set. With the score tied at 17, the Utes went on an 8-3 run to win the set 25-20. The team had 17 kills in the third set.
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In the fourth set, the Utes had the lead late at 22-20, but the Pioneers won four straight points. Utah saved one set point, but couldn't save another pushing the match to a fifth set to setup the thrilling comeback.
Â
Phoebe Grace finished the match with 13 kills and zero errors. She hit .565 for the match.
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Utah will now hit the road for the first time and travel to Montana next weekend for the Montana Invitational. The Utes first match next weekend is against the host team on Friday, August 31 at 10 a.m.
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Team Stats
DEN
UTAH
Kills
64
70
Errors
23
25
Attempts
165
167
Hitting %
.248
.269
Points
78.5
90.0
Assists
63
64
Aces
4
8
Blocks
10.5
12.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
24
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
2
Blocks
5
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
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