FLAGSTAFF, Ariz - Utah Tech volleyball started the 2022 season with a double header at the Lumberjack Classic. First the Trailblazers came away with a four set win over Northern Arizona before taking a clean three set win over Old Dominion. 

What Head Coach Camilla Hafoka said: I'm proud of how our girls have been playing. They put the work in the off season and summer and it's showing. There's some things we need to get better at but for now we will enjoy the wins. 
 
GAME ONE:
How it happened:  Early in the first set, Utah Tech found themselves with a 6-3 lead over Northern Arizona. The Lumberjacks tied the set up at 7-7 before the Trailblazers pushed forward to take an 18-14 lead. UT kept the lead the entire first set with NAu only getting within one point. To claim the 25-22 first set win, Utah Tech came up with back-to-back points. First, Hannah Howard slammed down an attack for a kill followed by a kill from Kate Hardy. 

In the second set, NAU and UT were tied at 6-6 before NAU went on a 15-2 run to take a 21-9 lead. The Lumberjacks then pushed on for a 25-11 second set win over the Trailblazers. 

The Trailblazers found their groove again early in the third set by jumping out to a 13-6 lead. Utah Tech pushed on to take a big 17-10 lead. NAU pushed back and tied the set up at 20-20. The Trailblazers dominated the final five points of the set. Chayse Daugherty had three big kills in those final five points to push Utah Tech to the 25-22 victory. 

Utah Tech and Northern Arizona battled in the fourth set going point for point, neither team gaining any momentum.  The Trailblazers were trailed 13-10 when Hannah Howard slammed down a kill to spark a 7-2 run for UT. Later the set was tied at 18-18 and the two teams had a fight to the finish. 

The Trailblazers found themselves at set point with a 24-21 lead when NAU got three consecutive points to tie it. With the score tied at 25-25, Utah Tech took advantage of a Lumberjack service error to put UT back at set point. A long rally ensued for the final point and Utah Tech was able to take the win. 

Killin' It: Hannah Howard led the Trailblazers with 14 kills in the match. Taela Laufiso hit .538 on the match with eight kills, from 13 attacks with just one error.  Laufiso also led with 34 assists on the day.  

In total, Utah Tech ended the match with 50 kills from 150 attacks with 25 errors. 

Utah Tech had four service aces. Whittnee Nihipali and Kate Hardy each recorded two. 

Diggin' it: Utah Tech had three Trailblazers record double digit digs. Mykenna Nelson led the way with 21. Laufiso added 13 while Nihipali had 10. UT ended the match with 72 total digs. 

Blockin' it: Laufiso and Hardy each had three blocks on the match to lead UT. The Trailblazers had nine total blocks on the day. 

Double up: Laufiso recorded a double double with her 34 assists and 13 digs. 

GAME TWO:
How it happened: Utah Tech wasted no time taking control of the first set going on a 5-0 run to start things off and pushed on to take a 13-3 lead. Old Dominion couldn't cut the score deficit and the Trailblazers pushed forward to take a 25-14 win in the first set. 

Early in the second set, Old Dominion trailed by just one never letting UT get any significant momentum. Later in the set, Kate Hardy and Whittnee Nihipali came up with a big block to spark some energy in the Trailblazers. With a three point lead, UT went on a 5-0 run to bring the score to 21-13. To close out the second set, the Trailblazers capitalized on one ODU error before Hannah Howard and Bridgett Talia recorded kills for a final score of 25-16. 

Utah Tech never let Old Dominion get any type of lead in the third set. The Trailblazers maintained momentum the entire set. To end the set and give Utah Tech the clean 3-0 match sweep, Taela Laufiso attacked for a kill to bring the set to match point. Kate Hardy then served up an ace to give UT the win. 

Killin' It: Howard and Nihipali each came away with nine kills to lead Utah Tech. Laufiso led the way with a clean .778 hitting percentage with seven kills from nine attacks and no errors. In total, UT had 38 kills from 96 attempts with 12 errors for a .271 percentage. Laufiso also added 25 assists to the Trailblazers offensive efforts. 

Diggin' It: Two Trailblazers had double digit digs. Mykenna Nelson led with 14 on the match while Chayse Daugherty added 11. In total, UT had 49 digs. 

Blockin' It: Hardy led UT with four blocks. In total the Trailblazers had six. 

Notes to know: Utah Tech is now 2-0 overall on the season.  This is the first time since 2009 that Utah Tech has started the season off with back-to-back wins and the second time ever in school history. 

Next Up: Utah Tech will take on the University of Michigan on the last day of the Lumberjack Classic. The Trailblazers first home game of the season is Friday, Sept. 2 against Cal State Fullerton.