Women's Volleyball | 8/17/2023 9:15:00 PM

The Utah Tech women's volleyball team will host its annual Alumni Match inside the Burns Arena this Friday night at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The Trailblazer program will welcome back nine former Blazer players for the exhibition match:
Lizzy Clark (2019-21)
To'a Faleao (2018-19)
Malary Marshall (2016-18)
Makenzi Murphey (2012-15)
Whittnee Nihipali (2020-22)
Siara Roberts (2019-21)
Current Volunteer Assistant Coach Abigail Shaffer (2020-21)
Megan Treanor (2018-21)
Current Assistant Coach Whitnee Tupe (2005-06)

Utah Tech, which was selected to finish seventh in the 2023 Western Athletic Conference Coaches poll on Thursday, will officially open the 2023 season next weekend with the first of two in-season tournaments, starting with a three-match slate at the Weber State Wildcat Invitational in Ogden, Utah.

The Trailblazers will play a pair of matches during day one on Friday afternoon against host Weber State (12:30 p.m.) and Saint Mary's (5 p.m.) inside the WSU Swenson Gym, followed by a Saturday matinee vs. Manhattan on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m.

Camilla Hafoka (Oregon State, 2010; 18-27 overall record) is in her fifth season with the Trailblazer program, and her third season as head coach as Utah Tech begins its fourth NCAA Division I season. 

Hafoka is joined on the UT sideline by second year associate head coach Rob Berrett (Weber State, 2013), while assistant coach Whitnee Tupe (Dixie State, 2007), who served as a Trailblazer assistant coach from 2011-15, returns to the staff for her fifth season and 10th overall. Former Blazer standout Abigail Shaffer is also on this year's staff as a volunteer assistant coach. 

Utah Tech returns three starters and six total letter winners from last season's 11-12 squad, led by fifth-year setter Taela Laufiso, along with senior middle blocker Kate Hardy and senior outside hitter Hannah Howard. The Trailblazers also welcome back three talented defensive specialists in senior libero Emma Ricks, and sophomores Kaycee Bugas and Kendyl Holt. 

For more news and information about Utah Tech Volleyball, follow the Trailblazers on Twitter and Instagram at @UtahTech_VB.