Utah Volleyball Drops Five-Set Thriller at Washington

Sunday, October 15

Seattle, WA

1:00 PM

University of Utah

8-10,3-5Pac-12

Washington

13-6,4-4Pac-12

Utah

Washington

Photo by: RIQSHOTIT

Utah Volleyball Drops Five-Set Thriller at Washington

10/15/2023 7:49 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

The Utes accumulate a season-high 65 kills as Viktoria Wahlgren records a career-high 51 assists.

SEATTLE - The Utah volleyball team wrapped up the road trip to the Pacific Northwest going toe-to-toe with Washington at Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday afternoon, falling in five sets (25-19, 20-25, 20-25, 26-24, 14-16).

The Utah offense was clicking on all levels on Sunday, setting records for multiple Utes. Four different Utah players recorded double-digit kills as this is the highest team kill total since totaling 65 against UConn at the San Diego preseason tournament in 2022.

Sophomore setter Viktoria Wahlgren tallied 51 assists against the Huskies, the most of her young career. The Canada native also contributed defensively by adding four blocks and six digs, the most since collecting 12 digs at USC earlier this season. Dominating the middle of the court, Emrie Satuala piled up a career-high 18 kills with a .375 hitting percentage. Satuala remained a steady asset throughout the match as she put together five kills in both the first and fourth sets. The sophomore transfer shined at the net as the team's season block leader, using her seven blocks to lead all scorers.

Utah was a force defensively as all five of the match's block leaders were Utes. Following Satuala's strong afternoon, Allie Olsen contributed six blocks while Amelia Van Der Werff and Kamryn Gibadlo joined the party with three blocks each. Leading the back row, Vanessa Ramirez led all scorers with 18 digs, tying her second-most of the season.

The Utes started the match red hot as they ran out to a 10-4 start with a combination of strong offensive and defensive presences. Three different Utes recorded a kill during this first stretch and the team used a pair of blocks to jump out ahead. Both teams matched point for point with each other throughout the rest of the set but a kill from Gibadlo slammed the door to give Utah the first set. Six different Utes collected a kill as the team hit at a .414 clip to open the match.

The second set began back and forth as neither team held more than a two-point lead until the Huskies went on a 5-1 run to take a 14-9 advantage. The Utes responded with a run of their own as kills from Kamry Bailey and Van Der Werff contributed to a 4-1 run and cut the deficit to 15-13. Washington answered and stretched their lead to seven points with an extended 9-4 run. Allie Olsen took over with two kills and a service ace, but the Utes couldn't fight off a set point and the Huskies leveled the match at one set a piece.

The third set followed the same story as the previous set as neither team could take a firm grasp until later into play. Satuala and Bailey helped the Utes use a 3-0 run to take a slight 13-12 lead, but the Huskies responded with their own 4-0 to take a 16-13 edge. Utah found their own long run later in the set as a 5-1 stretch took an 18-17 lead and forced a Huskies timeout. Following the timeout, Washington gained control of the set and finished on an 8-2 run. There were 13 ties and 9 lead changes in the action-filled third set.

Both teams remained steady to start the fourth set but back-to-back kills from Gibadlo increased Utah's lead to 7-4. Neither team could maintain a lead of more than two points throughout the majority of the set until the last few points. Gibadlo tied the set 24-24 with her tenth kill of the match and fifth kill of the set. Ramirez followed the kill with a service ace and a kill from Olsen pushed the match to five sets. The Utes racked up 17 kills and Wahlgren added 13 assists in the set.

The fifth and final set started with a 3-1 Utah advantage after a Bailey kill and a pair of Washington errors. After the Huskies tied the set 5-5, Gibadlo gave the Utes the lead back, 6-5 before Washington used a 3-0 run to retain the upper hand. The Utes responded with a kill from Lauren Jardine and a Bailey solo block to tie the set, 8-8. Despite Utah trailing 13-11 with the race to 15 blazing on, a 3-1 run aided by kills from Satuala and Gibadlo tied the set at 14-14. The Huskies captured the next two points and closed out the match.

The Utes head back to Salt Lake City next weekend to host Arizona State next Friday, Oct. 20 and Arizona next Sunday, Oct. 22. The Utes welcome the Sun Devils for Flashback Friday, and the match will be available to watch on Pac-12 Network at 6 p.m. MT. First serve for the Ute Proud match with the Wildcats with be at 12 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Mountain.