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Friday, October 28
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6:00 PM
University of Utah
3
vs
0
USC
Photo by: Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics
Utah Volleyball Sweeps #24 USC
10/28/2022 8:53 PM | Volleyball
Utes come out on top in tight battle against the Trojans.
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Volleyball downed the No. 24-ranked USC Trojans in straight sets (25-22, 27-25, 25-22) to mark its second sweep over a top-25 team this season. Utah was powered from Madelyn Robinson's 17 kills and KJ Burgess' nine kills on .800 hitting, leading the Utes to a season split against the Trojans.
The tone was set early as the opening frame went back and forth from start to finish. The competitive match and narrow straight-set win for Utah began with the Utes playing from ahead the majority of the first set. The largest lead of the set came after Madelyn Robinson recorded a block, which was then followed by an ace from Kamry Bailey to extend the lead 17-13.
Out of a USC timeout, the Trojans rattled off four points in a row to force Utah to call timeout after the momentum shift. Robinson ended the run and started a 4-0 run for the Utes this time to pull ahead 21-17. Despite having the lead, Utah later found the lead trimmed to just 22-21, however, kills from three different Utes would end the frame 25-22. Vanessa Ramirez posted seven digs in the opening set to lead the defense, while Robinson tallied five kills to lead both teams.
In the second set, Utah trailed 10-5 early on and the Trojan lead pushed out to 16-9 after the visitors went on a 5-1 run. Utah slowly chipped away at the lead, and when trailing 21-18, KJ Burgess posted a solo block between a pair of Robinson kills to kick start what went on to be a 6-1 run for Utah. The run of points pushed the Utes out to set point 24-22 after playing from behind the entire frame.
USC managed to even the score after consecutive points, but another Robinson kill gave Utah set point once again. A Ute service error tied the frame, but a Robinson kill and block from Allie Olsen and Lauren Jardine in the middle would earn the win 27-25. Burgess exploded for five kills in the comeback set, while Robinson added six kills from Emily Smith's incredible 17 assists.
Smith started the third set with a pair of aces to get Utah going early. The momentum continued for Utah as it toyed with a three-point lead for some time before a 5-1 run pushed the score to 16-10. Although Utah seemed to be in control, USC turned the tides with four consecutive points to force a Utah timeout with the lead dwindling. The Trojans continued the push and later tied the frame 17-17.
After trading a point each, Utah rattled off a 3-0 run to jump ahead 21-18. USC earned a sideout after the Utes recorded a hitting error, but consecutive kills from Utah and an ace from Megan Yett led to match point, 24-19. The Trojans fought back with three points in a row, but Robinson's 17th kill of the match ended it for good.
Robinson led the team in kills as she has done in all but one match this season, while the nine kills on .800 hitting for Burgess is the freshman's best hitting percentage of the season. She has now hit above .455 in five of the last six matches. She also led the team with four blocks.
Smith dished out 38 assists, which is the most in a three set match for her this season. She also posted her 11th double-double of the season with 10 digs, as well as totaling three aces. Ramirez posted a match-high 13 digs, while Amelia Van Der Werff added seven kills (.417 hitting) and three blocks.
Utah Volleyball wraps up the home weekend this Sunday, Oct. 30, against the UCLA Bruins. Utah and UCLA will play at 12 p.m. MT in the Jon M. Huntsman Center, and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. The match will be Utah's Dark Mode match with fans encouraged to wear black. There will be free black Utah beanies for the first 500 fans.
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The tone was set early as the opening frame went back and forth from start to finish. The competitive match and narrow straight-set win for Utah began with the Utes playing from ahead the majority of the first set. The largest lead of the set came after Madelyn Robinson recorded a block, which was then followed by an ace from Kamry Bailey to extend the lead 17-13.
Out of a USC timeout, the Trojans rattled off four points in a row to force Utah to call timeout after the momentum shift. Robinson ended the run and started a 4-0 run for the Utes this time to pull ahead 21-17. Despite having the lead, Utah later found the lead trimmed to just 22-21, however, kills from three different Utes would end the frame 25-22. Vanessa Ramirez posted seven digs in the opening set to lead the defense, while Robinson tallied five kills to lead both teams.
In the second set, Utah trailed 10-5 early on and the Trojan lead pushed out to 16-9 after the visitors went on a 5-1 run. Utah slowly chipped away at the lead, and when trailing 21-18, KJ Burgess posted a solo block between a pair of Robinson kills to kick start what went on to be a 6-1 run for Utah. The run of points pushed the Utes out to set point 24-22 after playing from behind the entire frame.
USC managed to even the score after consecutive points, but another Robinson kill gave Utah set point once again. A Ute service error tied the frame, but a Robinson kill and block from Allie Olsen and Lauren Jardine in the middle would earn the win 27-25. Burgess exploded for five kills in the comeback set, while Robinson added six kills from Emily Smith's incredible 17 assists.
Smith started the third set with a pair of aces to get Utah going early. The momentum continued for Utah as it toyed with a three-point lead for some time before a 5-1 run pushed the score to 16-10. Although Utah seemed to be in control, USC turned the tides with four consecutive points to force a Utah timeout with the lead dwindling. The Trojans continued the push and later tied the frame 17-17.
After trading a point each, Utah rattled off a 3-0 run to jump ahead 21-18. USC earned a sideout after the Utes recorded a hitting error, but consecutive kills from Utah and an ace from Megan Yett led to match point, 24-19. The Trojans fought back with three points in a row, but Robinson's 17th kill of the match ended it for good.
Robinson led the team in kills as she has done in all but one match this season, while the nine kills on .800 hitting for Burgess is the freshman's best hitting percentage of the season. She has now hit above .455 in five of the last six matches. She also led the team with four blocks.
Smith dished out 38 assists, which is the most in a three set match for her this season. She also posted her 11th double-double of the season with 10 digs, as well as totaling three aces. Ramirez posted a match-high 13 digs, while Amelia Van Der Werff added seven kills (.417 hitting) and three blocks.
Utah Volleyball wraps up the home weekend this Sunday, Oct. 30, against the UCLA Bruins. Utah and UCLA will play at 12 p.m. MT in the Jon M. Huntsman Center, and will be televised on the Pac-12 Network. The match will be Utah's Dark Mode match with fans encouraged to wear black. There will be free black Utah beanies for the first 500 fans.
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