(St. George, Utah – Sept. 16, 2023) - A third straight Saturday saw a five-set battle for the Utah Tech volleyball team as the Trailblazers came up just short dropping a hard-fought battle to Marshall at Burns Arena.

In its final non-conference match of the season, Utah Tech (4-6) dropped the opening set, 28-26 before winning the next two sets, 25-18 & 25-20, respectively. Marshall (8-6) evened up the match with a 25-21 win in the fourth set before taking the final set, 15-12 for the comeback win.

The Blazers were led by a season-high 20 kills from Sydney Reese and a season-best 52 assists from Taela Laufiso. Laufiso added a career-high five service aces and her sister, Mya Laufiso, led Utah Tech with 20 digs.

The Thundering Herd jumped out to a 21-17 lead in the opening set before the Blazers answered back with a 5-0 run for its first lead of the match. After Reese tied the set at 26 with a kill, Marshall was able to escape with the set win after a kill and block.

An 8-0 run in the early going of the second set saw the Blazers get out to a 9-2 lead extending it to as many as eight (17-9) after a block from Reese. Kills by Kate Hardy and Kennedi Knudsen wrapped the second set to even the match at one set apiece.

Falling behind 10-8 in the third set, the Trailblazers used another 8-0 run to go ahead 16-10 on a kill by Hannah Howard. An attack error and service ace from Adee Butler pushed UT ahead 22-18 and back-to-back kills by Reese and Howard gave the Blazers a 2-1 set lead.

After the Thundering Herd won the fourth set, 25-21, the Blazers headed to a fifth set for the fourth time this season. A 4-0 run midway through the final set put the Blazers ahead 9-6. Unfortunately for the home team, it was all Marshall from there finishing the match on a 9-3 run, including racking up the final four points of the match.

The Blazers held an advantage over the Thundering Herd in kills (67-63), service aces (11-3) and assists (59-56) while Marshall led in blocks (11-10) and digs (94-83).

Utah Tech opens WAC play on Thursday hosting California Baptist (6-4) at 6 p.m. at Burns Arena.

2023 Utah Tech/Southern Utah Invitational All-Tournament Team

• Sydney Reese, Fr., OH - 28 kills, 6 blocks, 6 digs, 3 service aces
• Taela Laufiso, Sr., S - 80 assists, 22 digs, 11 kills, 5 service aces, 3 blocks