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The University of Utah Athletics
Position Breakdown: Setter
8/19/2019 10:42 AM | Volleyball
Utes Will Have a New Starting Setter in 2019
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah volleyball heads into the 2019 season and will have a new starting setter, but will surround them with All-Americans on the outside and in the middle.
Saige Ka'aha'aina-Torres enters her sophomore season and got some valuable playing time a season ago in big matches for the Utes.
She played in 32 matches and finished with 349 assists on the season overall. This summer, she made the US Collegiate National Team – Japan with Dani Drews and Kenzie Koerber giving her more experience to prepare her for 2019.
"Saige had a good spring and summer and worked very hard," head coach Beth Launiere said. "She knows it's a big opportunity in front of her. We didn't put her on the beach team, so she could just focus on setting and she's way ahead of where she was last year."
The other setter is freshman Emily Smith from Park City, Utah. Smith lettered four seasons at Park City High School and was named the 2018 UHSAA Region XI Volleyball MVP. She was a two-time First Team All-State member as well as being named Utah's outstanding 4A High School Volleyball Performer in assists by MaxPreps. From her sophomore to senior season, she averaged 9.1 assists per set and totaled 1,925 assists.
The Utes will have their inaugural Red/White Scrimmage this Saturday, August 24 at 2 p.m. Admission is free for anyone that would like to come out to catch the first glimpse of Utah.
A week later, the Utes will host the Utah Volleyball Classic in the Huntsman Center starting Friday, August 30. Utah begins its season with Saint Mary's at noon that Friday and then hosts No. 7 Kentucky that night at 7:30. They finish the tournament the next day by playing No. 23 Cal Poly at 5 p.m.
Saige Ka'aha'aina-Torres enters her sophomore season and got some valuable playing time a season ago in big matches for the Utes.
She played in 32 matches and finished with 349 assists on the season overall. This summer, she made the US Collegiate National Team – Japan with Dani Drews and Kenzie Koerber giving her more experience to prepare her for 2019.
"Saige had a good spring and summer and worked very hard," head coach Beth Launiere said. "She knows it's a big opportunity in front of her. We didn't put her on the beach team, so she could just focus on setting and she's way ahead of where she was last year."
The other setter is freshman Emily Smith from Park City, Utah. Smith lettered four seasons at Park City High School and was named the 2018 UHSAA Region XI Volleyball MVP. She was a two-time First Team All-State member as well as being named Utah's outstanding 4A High School Volleyball Performer in assists by MaxPreps. From her sophomore to senior season, she averaged 9.1 assists per set and totaled 1,925 assists.
The Utes will have their inaugural Red/White Scrimmage this Saturday, August 24 at 2 p.m. Admission is free for anyone that would like to come out to catch the first glimpse of Utah.
A week later, the Utes will host the Utah Volleyball Classic in the Huntsman Center starting Friday, August 30. Utah begins its season with Saint Mary's at noon that Friday and then hosts No. 7 Kentucky that night at 7:30. They finish the tournament the next day by playing No. 23 Cal Poly at 5 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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