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Volleyball
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Friday, October 27
Salt Lake City, UT
7:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
UCLA
Photo by: Eli Rehmer/Utah Athletics
Volleyball Hosts USC on Sunday to Close Four-Match Homestand
10/25/2023 1:41 PM | Volleyball
The Utes close out a four-game homestand Sunday before hitting the road for four straight
Match 21: Utah (9-11) vs. UCLA (11-9)
Friday, Oct. 27 | 7 p.m. MT
Salt Lake City | Jon M. Huntsman Center
Watch: Live Broadcast
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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Match 22: Utah (8-10) vs. USC (13-7)
Sunday, Oct. 29 | 12 p.m. MT
Salt Lake City | Jon M. Huntsman Center
Watch: Live Broadcast
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MATCH WEEK
The Utes begin the second half of a four-game home stand and the conference season, welcoming UCLA and USC to Salt Lake City. The match with the Bruins will be Friday, Oct. 27, for Halloween Freaky Friday at 7 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Insider. First serve with the Trojans for Super Sunday will be at 12 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Mountain with Krista Blunk on the call to conclude the weekend. Utah has played both the Bruins and the Trojans in Los Angeles earlier this season, falling at USC in five sets and defeating UCLA in straight sets.
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FOR THE FANS
Utah's match against UCLA on Friday night will be Halloween Freaky Friday. Costumes are encouraged for all fans and there will be a costume contest to show off the best costumes around the arena. After the match, the Utes will host an autograph session on the floor with candy for the kids. On Sunday, the first 150 fans will receive a grey Utah hat upon entry.
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QUICK HITS
• The Utes collected a rally-scoring era program-high 17 aces against Arizona
• Emrie Satuala has recorded double-digit kills in six of the last nine matches
• Emily Smith (6) and Vanessa Ramirez (5) both set a new service ace career high on Sunday
• Utah added its eighth match of 50+ kills with 52 kills versus Arizona
• Vanessa Ramirez is fourth in the Pac-12 in digs per set with 3.67
• Utah has won five consecutive home matches against the Trojans, dating back to 2019. USC leads the all-time series, 20-11.
• The Utes swept UCLA on the road earlier this season for the first time in program history. The Bruins lead the all-time series 25-9.
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SCOUTING THE BRUINS
The Bruins picked up non-conference wins over Hawaii, Pepperdine, and Long Beach State to highlight the schedule with an 8-2 record heading into Pac-12 play. UCLA has split their last four conference matches with a win at California on Oct. 13 and a win against Washington in Los Angeles last Friday. In their most recent match, the Bruins were defeated by Washington State in four sets. All three Pac-12 wins so far this season for the Bruins have been decided in straight sets. Middle blocker Anna Dodson ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in hitting percentage at a .362 clip. The Bruins are fourth in the conference with 2.63 blocks per set, led by Desiree Becker who ranks fifth with 1.21 blocks/set.
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SCOUTING THE TROJANS
Over the course of the season, USC has picked up notable wins on the road at #17 Purdue and rival UCLA, while also recording a home win against San Diego and #4 Washington State. The reverse sweep win over the Cougars last Friday marked the first time USC took down a top-five ranked opponent since 2018. While the Trojans are a perfect 8-0 at home, they hold a 3-7 record away from the Galen Center. With two five-set matches last weekend, the Trojans have now played in eight so far this season while winning six. Skylar Fields heads the stellar USC attack, leading the conference with 4.92 kills per set and 374 total kills.
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TAKING A LOOK BACK
Earlier this season, the Utes traveled to Los Angeles to play at USC and UCLA. The Utes and the Trojans both grabbed their share of the first four sets before USC won the race to 15 in the fifth set. Emrie Satuala led the team with 10 kills, Viktoria Wahlgren dished out 37 assists, and Vanessa Ramirez collected 18 digs. Utah led the Trojans in blocks as Allie Olsen tallied five while Satuala and Wahlgren added three of their own. Against the Bruins, Utah dominated on all fronts. The Utes outscored UCLA in kills, digs, aces, and assists. Amelia Van Der Werff racked up 13 kills with no errors while Kamry Bailey added 11 and Emrie Satuala contributed her own 10. The Utes hit at a .293 clip, the third highest of the season. Winning in straight sets, the Utes captured their first sweep at UCLA in program history.
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MAKING A CASE IN THE MIDDLE
Utah has received contributions from its middle blockers on a nightly basis. Emrie Satuala and Allie Olsen lead the team with 63 and 60 blocks, respectively. Satauala has exploded since the beginning of the season. The transfer didn't record a match of double-digit kills until eighth match of the season but has since posted double-digit kills in the last six of eight matches, including hitting over .350 in all but two matches during the stretch. Satuala holds a team-best 1.02 blocks per set. Olsen has posted eight matches of .350 hitting or above, which includes five at a .500 clip or better. Former middle blocker Amelia Van Der Werff has made the move to right side and provided a spark against Weber State and California, totaling 17 kills with just three errors along with nine blocks. Against the Bruins in Los Angeles, Van Der Werff led the team with 13 kills (no errors) on .650 hitting and added eight kills at USC off the bench. Olsen, Van Der Werff and Satuala are the top three Utes in hitting percentage this season.
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CAN'T SEE IT, CAN'T BEAT IT
The Utes put on a clinic this weekend vs. Arizona on Sunday by recording 17 service aces, the most in program history during the rally-scoring era. Utah was led by Emily Smith and Vanessa Ramirez as Smith collected a career-high six aces while Ramirez added a career-high five aces. Viktoria Wahlgren leads the Utes with 23 aces and totaled a career-high 10 aces at UCLA. It marks the most aces by a Ute in a single match since 2018. She has posted six matches with at least two aces this season to lead the team.
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RAMIREZ RUNNING THE BACK ROW
Starting libero Vanessa Ramirez is leading the Utah defense once again as she has done since day one in Salt Lake City. She is fourth in the Pac-12 with 3.67 digs per set and has recorded double-digit digs in all but two matches this season. The California native recorded a season high 24 digs in just four sets against Weber State for her second match of 20-plus digs this season. Ramirez tallied 22 digs against NC State earlier this year and has 11 matches of 20 or more digs in her career. Last year, Ramirez led the team in digs 27 of the 31 matches, while she finished third in the Pac-12 with 4.04 digs per set. She has led the team or tied for the lead in digs in all but one match this season so far. Behind the line, Ramirez had a stellar match against Arizona on Sunday, racking up 5 service aces, setting her new career high.
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FEED THE FRESHMAN
Outside hitter Kamryn Gibadlo has shined so far in her first season with the Utes. The Cave Creek, Ariz., native leads the team with ten matches of 10 or more kills during her true freshman season. She posted eight kills off the bench at UCLA on .412 hitting, while recording 11 kills at Colorado in her first conference match. Gibadlo dominated the floor vs. UC Santa Barbara during the Utah Classic, capturing 17 kills. Gibadlo saw near perfection against San Francisco earlier this season as she accumulated 11 kills on 16 total attacks with zero errors. A couple of weekends ago, she totaled 17 kills against Oregon and Oregon State combined. Against
Washington, Gibadlo had one of her best all-around games, posting 13 kill and recording seven digs. In her most recent bid, Gibadlo racked up 11 kills vs. Arizona on Sunday, and accompanied this offensive performance with a pair digs.
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AUTOMATIC ALLIE
Starting middle blocker Allie Olsen is coming off a season where she recorded a .363 hitting percentage, which ranked as the sixth-best percentage in a single season in program history. Â Olsen has hit above .500 in six matches far, while she has hit above .400 in half of the matches so far this season. At the Utah Classic, she earned All-Tournament Team honors after hitting at a blazing .419 clip through three matches. Olsen recorded a season-high .692 hitting percentage against Tennessee State from nine kills and no errors, while hitting .538 against San Francisco. Last Sunday at Washington, Olsen totaled 11 kills at a .500 hitting percentage clip. She accompanied this figure with a career-high three service aces. The senior from Great Falls, Mont., is hitting .305 in the 2023 season.
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SETTING THE STANDARD
Sophomore setter Viktoria Wahlgren has earned the start in every match this season and has recorded 9.19 assists per set. Wahlgren also recorded a career-best 51 assists with six digs and four blocks at Washington. This is the first time a Utah setter has recorded over 50 assists in a match since Stef Jankiewicz racked up 50 assists versus Colorado on Nov. 27, 2021. Wahlgren has posted six matches of 40 or more assists and has recorded two double-doubles this season. Against Arizona, the sophomore collected 40 kills with seven digs.
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UP NEXT
Utah hits the road to start a four-game road trip, beginning in Eugene, Ore. For a matchup with the #9 Oregon Ducks on Friday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. MT and later traveling to Corvallis, Ore., to face the Oregon State Beavers on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. MT. The match with Oregon will be broadcast on the Oregon live stream while Sunday's match with Oregon State will be available to watch on Pac-12 Mountain.
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Friday, Oct. 27 | 7 p.m. MT
Salt Lake City | Jon M. Huntsman Center
Watch: Live Broadcast
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
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Match 22: Utah (8-10) vs. USC (13-7)
Sunday, Oct. 29 | 12 p.m. MT
Salt Lake City | Jon M. Huntsman Center
Watch: Live Broadcast
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
MATCH WEEK
The Utes begin the second half of a four-game home stand and the conference season, welcoming UCLA and USC to Salt Lake City. The match with the Bruins will be Friday, Oct. 27, for Halloween Freaky Friday at 7 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Insider. First serve with the Trojans for Super Sunday will be at 12 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Mountain with Krista Blunk on the call to conclude the weekend. Utah has played both the Bruins and the Trojans in Los Angeles earlier this season, falling at USC in five sets and defeating UCLA in straight sets.
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FOR THE FANS
Utah's match against UCLA on Friday night will be Halloween Freaky Friday. Costumes are encouraged for all fans and there will be a costume contest to show off the best costumes around the arena. After the match, the Utes will host an autograph session on the floor with candy for the kids. On Sunday, the first 150 fans will receive a grey Utah hat upon entry.
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QUICK HITS
• The Utes collected a rally-scoring era program-high 17 aces against Arizona
• Emrie Satuala has recorded double-digit kills in six of the last nine matches
• Emily Smith (6) and Vanessa Ramirez (5) both set a new service ace career high on Sunday
• Utah added its eighth match of 50+ kills with 52 kills versus Arizona
• Vanessa Ramirez is fourth in the Pac-12 in digs per set with 3.67
• Utah has won five consecutive home matches against the Trojans, dating back to 2019. USC leads the all-time series, 20-11.
• The Utes swept UCLA on the road earlier this season for the first time in program history. The Bruins lead the all-time series 25-9.
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SCOUTING THE BRUINS
The Bruins picked up non-conference wins over Hawaii, Pepperdine, and Long Beach State to highlight the schedule with an 8-2 record heading into Pac-12 play. UCLA has split their last four conference matches with a win at California on Oct. 13 and a win against Washington in Los Angeles last Friday. In their most recent match, the Bruins were defeated by Washington State in four sets. All three Pac-12 wins so far this season for the Bruins have been decided in straight sets. Middle blocker Anna Dodson ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in hitting percentage at a .362 clip. The Bruins are fourth in the conference with 2.63 blocks per set, led by Desiree Becker who ranks fifth with 1.21 blocks/set.
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SCOUTING THE TROJANS
Over the course of the season, USC has picked up notable wins on the road at #17 Purdue and rival UCLA, while also recording a home win against San Diego and #4 Washington State. The reverse sweep win over the Cougars last Friday marked the first time USC took down a top-five ranked opponent since 2018. While the Trojans are a perfect 8-0 at home, they hold a 3-7 record away from the Galen Center. With two five-set matches last weekend, the Trojans have now played in eight so far this season while winning six. Skylar Fields heads the stellar USC attack, leading the conference with 4.92 kills per set and 374 total kills.
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TAKING A LOOK BACK
Earlier this season, the Utes traveled to Los Angeles to play at USC and UCLA. The Utes and the Trojans both grabbed their share of the first four sets before USC won the race to 15 in the fifth set. Emrie Satuala led the team with 10 kills, Viktoria Wahlgren dished out 37 assists, and Vanessa Ramirez collected 18 digs. Utah led the Trojans in blocks as Allie Olsen tallied five while Satuala and Wahlgren added three of their own. Against the Bruins, Utah dominated on all fronts. The Utes outscored UCLA in kills, digs, aces, and assists. Amelia Van Der Werff racked up 13 kills with no errors while Kamry Bailey added 11 and Emrie Satuala contributed her own 10. The Utes hit at a .293 clip, the third highest of the season. Winning in straight sets, the Utes captured their first sweep at UCLA in program history.
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MAKING A CASE IN THE MIDDLE
Utah has received contributions from its middle blockers on a nightly basis. Emrie Satuala and Allie Olsen lead the team with 63 and 60 blocks, respectively. Satauala has exploded since the beginning of the season. The transfer didn't record a match of double-digit kills until eighth match of the season but has since posted double-digit kills in the last six of eight matches, including hitting over .350 in all but two matches during the stretch. Satuala holds a team-best 1.02 blocks per set. Olsen has posted eight matches of .350 hitting or above, which includes five at a .500 clip or better. Former middle blocker Amelia Van Der Werff has made the move to right side and provided a spark against Weber State and California, totaling 17 kills with just three errors along with nine blocks. Against the Bruins in Los Angeles, Van Der Werff led the team with 13 kills (no errors) on .650 hitting and added eight kills at USC off the bench. Olsen, Van Der Werff and Satuala are the top three Utes in hitting percentage this season.
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CAN'T SEE IT, CAN'T BEAT IT
The Utes put on a clinic this weekend vs. Arizona on Sunday by recording 17 service aces, the most in program history during the rally-scoring era. Utah was led by Emily Smith and Vanessa Ramirez as Smith collected a career-high six aces while Ramirez added a career-high five aces. Viktoria Wahlgren leads the Utes with 23 aces and totaled a career-high 10 aces at UCLA. It marks the most aces by a Ute in a single match since 2018. She has posted six matches with at least two aces this season to lead the team.
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RAMIREZ RUNNING THE BACK ROW
Starting libero Vanessa Ramirez is leading the Utah defense once again as she has done since day one in Salt Lake City. She is fourth in the Pac-12 with 3.67 digs per set and has recorded double-digit digs in all but two matches this season. The California native recorded a season high 24 digs in just four sets against Weber State for her second match of 20-plus digs this season. Ramirez tallied 22 digs against NC State earlier this year and has 11 matches of 20 or more digs in her career. Last year, Ramirez led the team in digs 27 of the 31 matches, while she finished third in the Pac-12 with 4.04 digs per set. She has led the team or tied for the lead in digs in all but one match this season so far. Behind the line, Ramirez had a stellar match against Arizona on Sunday, racking up 5 service aces, setting her new career high.
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FEED THE FRESHMAN
Outside hitter Kamryn Gibadlo has shined so far in her first season with the Utes. The Cave Creek, Ariz., native leads the team with ten matches of 10 or more kills during her true freshman season. She posted eight kills off the bench at UCLA on .412 hitting, while recording 11 kills at Colorado in her first conference match. Gibadlo dominated the floor vs. UC Santa Barbara during the Utah Classic, capturing 17 kills. Gibadlo saw near perfection against San Francisco earlier this season as she accumulated 11 kills on 16 total attacks with zero errors. A couple of weekends ago, she totaled 17 kills against Oregon and Oregon State combined. Against
Washington, Gibadlo had one of her best all-around games, posting 13 kill and recording seven digs. In her most recent bid, Gibadlo racked up 11 kills vs. Arizona on Sunday, and accompanied this offensive performance with a pair digs.
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AUTOMATIC ALLIE
Starting middle blocker Allie Olsen is coming off a season where she recorded a .363 hitting percentage, which ranked as the sixth-best percentage in a single season in program history. Â Olsen has hit above .500 in six matches far, while she has hit above .400 in half of the matches so far this season. At the Utah Classic, she earned All-Tournament Team honors after hitting at a blazing .419 clip through three matches. Olsen recorded a season-high .692 hitting percentage against Tennessee State from nine kills and no errors, while hitting .538 against San Francisco. Last Sunday at Washington, Olsen totaled 11 kills at a .500 hitting percentage clip. She accompanied this figure with a career-high three service aces. The senior from Great Falls, Mont., is hitting .305 in the 2023 season.
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SETTING THE STANDARD
Sophomore setter Viktoria Wahlgren has earned the start in every match this season and has recorded 9.19 assists per set. Wahlgren also recorded a career-best 51 assists with six digs and four blocks at Washington. This is the first time a Utah setter has recorded over 50 assists in a match since Stef Jankiewicz racked up 50 assists versus Colorado on Nov. 27, 2021. Wahlgren has posted six matches of 40 or more assists and has recorded two double-doubles this season. Against Arizona, the sophomore collected 40 kills with seven digs.
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UP NEXT
Utah hits the road to start a four-game road trip, beginning in Eugene, Ore. For a matchup with the #9 Oregon Ducks on Friday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. MT and later traveling to Corvallis, Ore., to face the Oregon State Beavers on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. MT. The match with Oregon will be broadcast on the Oregon live stream while Sunday's match with Oregon State will be available to watch on Pac-12 Mountain.
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Players Mentioned
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