Who | Utah Tech (8-12, 4-6 WAC) at Grand Canyon (16-5, 9-1 WAC) / California Baptist (12-9, 5-5 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 26 – 7 p.m. / Saturday, Oct. 28 – 2 p.m.
Where | Antelope Gymnasium - Phoenix, Ariz. / Van Dyne Gym - Riverside, Calif.
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers
TRAILBLAZERS COMPLETE REVERSE SWEEP OVER MAVERICKS: Utah Tech completed its first reverse sweep since Sept. 10, 2022 (Tennessee State) on Saturday at home against UT Arlington rallying from a 2-0 set deficit to win the final three sets, 25-19, 25-13 & 15-10. Sydney Reese led the Blazers with 17 kills and hit a season-best .379 and added five block assists. The Trailblazers fell in four sets on Thursday to WAC-leading Stephen F. Austin becoming only the second team to take a set against the Ladyjacks. Kennedi Knudsen registered her sixth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 11 digs.
WAC STANDINGS: The Trailblazers enter the week tied for seventh in the WAC with Utah Valley at 4-6 with six matches remaining as the top eight teams in the regular season standings advance to the WAC Tournament hosted by Utah Valley on Nov. 16-18.
BULLDOGS IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION: The Trailblazers posted a 4-6 mark in non-conference action with wins over Manhattan, CSU Bakersfield, New Mexico & Idaho while falling in five-set battles to Weber State, Fresno State and Marshall. Competing in three tournaments, the Blazers had three players earn All-Tournament honors in Emma Ricks (Weber State Invite), Sydney Reese (New Mexico Lobo Invite & UT Invite) & Taela Laufiso (Weber State, New Mexico Lobo Invite & UT Invite).
UTAH TECH SERIES vs. ANTELOPES: The Blazers and Lopes have met 22 times with Grand Canyon leading 14-8. Utah Tech is 3-9 on the road dropping its last five contests in Phoenix with its last win on the road coming in 2010.
UTAH TECH SERIES vs. LANCERS: The Trailblazers and Lancers have met 21 times in series history with California Baptist leading 14-7. The Blazers are 1-7 on the road at California Baptist winning its last appearance in Riverside in 2021 in four sets.
A LOOK AT GRAND CANYON: Grand Canyon enters Thursday's match against the Trailblazers with a 16-5 record and sit second in the WAC with a 9-1 mark. The Lopes, who swept the Blazers in St. George on Sept. 23, lead the WAC in service aces per set (2.15), hitting percentage (.275) and service aces (161) and are third in assists per set (11.99), blocks per set (2.59), opponent hitting percentage (.188) and total blocks (194.0).
Individually, sophomore outside hitter Tatum Parrott leads the WAC in kills per set (4.44), ranks second in kills (320) & attacks per set (10.88). Senior setter Klaire Mitchell leads the WAC in aces per set (0.45) & assists per set (10.28).
A LOOK AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST: California Baptist is 12-9 overall on the season and is 5-5 in the WAC sitting in a three-way tie for fourth in the WAC with Abilene Christian and UT Arlington. The Lancers, who swept the Trailblazers at home in Sept. 21, check in second in the WAC in aces per set (1.81), digs per set (15.40), total team attacks (3,021) and is third in assists (986), digs (1,278) and service aces (150).
Individually, junior outside hitter Mia Jerue sits atop the WAC in service aces (37) and is second in service aces per set (0.45). Senior outside hitter Michalina Rola is third in the conference in attacks per set (10.18) and fifth in kills (260).
WAC RANKINGS: The Blazers enter the week ranking third in opposing hitting percentage (.174), fourth in service aces (123) & service aces per set (1.52), fifth in blocks per set (2.10) & blocks (170.5) and seventh in kills (942).
Sophomore Kennedi Knudsen is among the WAC leaders in kills per set sitting seventh at 3.11 and senior Emma Ricks is eighth in digs (268).
HARDY CLIMBING CAREER RANKS: Senior middle blocker Kate Hardy continues to climb the career ranks in three blocking categories sitting third in solo blocks (53), fifth in total blocks (259) and sixth in block assists (206). The Idaho native is also second all-time in career hitting percentage (.291).
ON THE ROAD: Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006, Utah Tech has recorded a 96-95 (.503) record in true-road games and has logged a winning record on the road nine times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019). Additionally, the Trailblazers have posted a 39-51 (.433) record in neutral-site games, including a 2-2 mark this season.
UP NEXT: Utah Tech is back home for Senior Day against UT Rio Grande Valley on Nov. 2 before heading to Southern Utah on Nov. 6.
