Utah Tech volleyball fell in three sets Saturday afternoon to UNLV.
What Head Coach Camilla Hafoka said: "I loved the way the girls played in the third set, that was more like Utah Tech volleyball. It wasn't our best match, we will learn from it and hopefully get back on track for the start of conference play on Thursday."
How it happened: UNLV established the pace early in the first set going on a 10-0 for a 14-4 score. A kill by
Bridgett Talia stopped the Rebels run and sparked a 7-2 Trailblazer run to bring the score to 17-11. Utah Tech couldn't cut the score deficit anymore after that and UNLV claimed the first set 25-14.
The Rebels started the second set off with some power jumping to a 10-4 lead and kept pushing for a 19-5 lead. UNLV kept the pressure on for the final points of the set and finished with a 25-8 set two win.
The third set was Utah Tech's best of the match. The Trailblazers trailed 21-16 but they were not deterred. Talia slammed a kill that sparked an 8-3 run. During the run Kate Hardy had back-to-back kills while Chase Daugherty added one for three consecutive points. Isabelle Iosua also came up with a big dig, attack, kill to tie the set 23-23 .
UNLV managed a kill and Daugherty answered to keep the score tied at 24-24 forcing extra points. UNLV finished out the third set with back-to-back kills for the 26-24 win and overall match win in three.
Killin' It: Talia led the Trailblazers with nine kills while Daugherty added four. from a career high of 45 attacks. Iosua recorded three kills from three attacks for a 1.000 hitting percentage.
Taela Laufiso ended the game with 19 assists and a game high of two service aces.
Diggin' it: Mykenna Nelson led UT in digs with 20 in the match. In total Utah Tech had 45 digs.
Notes to know: Utah Tech is now 6-3overall on the season.
Next Up: The Trailblazers will kick of Western Athletic Conference action by hosting Utah Valley in the Old Hammer Rivalry on Thursday, Sept. 22 before heading to Southern Utah to take on the Thunderbirds Saturday, Sept. 24.
