Who | Utah Tech (4-8, 0-2 WAC) at UTRGV (8-8, 2-1 WAC) / vs. Southern Utah (4-9, 0-3 WAC)
When | Saturday, Sept. 30 – 1 p.m. / Monday, Oct. 2 – 6 p.m.
Where | UTRGV Fieldhouse - Edinburg, Texas / Burns Arena – St. George, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

'DOGS OPEN WAC PLAY: Utah Tech opened its fourth season of WAC play at home last weekend being swept by both California Baptist and Grand Canyon. The Lancers topped the Trailblazers, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20 while the Lopes downed the Blazers, 25-22, 25-19, 25-19. Sophomore Kennedi Knudsen led Utah Tech in kills in both matches with 16 against CBU and eight vs. GCU.

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).

BLAZERS SET FOR WAC ROAD OPENER: The Trailblazers will be looking for their first win in a WAC road opener as they are 0-3 in WAC road openers falling at New Mexico State in spring 2021, Chicago State in fall 2021 and Southern Utah last season.

UTAH TECH SERIES vs. VAQUEROS: The Trailblazers and UT Rio Grande Valley have met three times with Utah Tech leading two to one after a pair of sweeps at home for the the Blazers while falling in five sets in Edinburg last season. The Blazers host UTRGV for Senior Night on Nov. 2.

UTAH TECH SERIES vs. THUNDERBIRDS: The Blazers and Thunderbirds have met five times with SUU leading 3-2. Utah Tech has earned wins at Southern Utah in the spring of 2021 and at home over SUU in the fall of 2021. The Thunderbirds won both pair of meetings last season winning in four sets at home and five sets in St. George. The Blazers travel to SUU on Nov. 6.

A LOOK AT UTRGV: UT Rio Grande Valley is 7-8 on the season opening WAC play last weekend with a four-set win at UT Arlington and were swept at Stephen F. Austin. The Vaqueros also have wins over Montana, Penn, Prairie View A&M, Incarnate Word and a pair of victories over Texas A&M-Corpus-Christi.

UTRGV ranks third in the WAC in kills (695), fourth in kills per set (12.64), assists (623) and team service aces (77). The Vaqueros also check in fifth in aces per set (1.40), hitting percentage (.215), kills (730) & attacks (1,859).

Individually, senior Luisa Silva Dos Santos leads the WAC in hitting percentage (.362) and junior setter Luanna Emiliano leads the conference in assists (529) and is third in assists per set (9.62) and service aces (23).

A LOOK AT SOUTHERN UTAH: Southern Utah is 4-8 on the season with wins over Providence, Eastern Washington, Fresno State and Idaho. The Thunderbirds opened WAC play last week being swept by Grand Canyon and falling in four sets to California Baptist.

As a team, SUU ranks fifth in the WAC in team attacks per set (34.58) while they check in sixth in digs per set (14.16) & opposing hitting percentage (.227). Individually, Andrea Spasojevic leads the Thunderbirds in kills per set (2.47) & digs per set (3.18) while Teniyah Leuluai tops the team in assists per set (7.84).

WAC RANKINGS: The Blazers rank third in opposing hitting percentage (.179), fourth in service aces (77) & service aces per set (1.57), fifth in blocks per set (1.94), sixth in kills (585) & blocks (95.0) and seventh in hitting percentage (.179) & kills per set (11.94)

Sophomore Kennedi Knudsen ranks ninth in the WAC in kills (3.02) & Emma Ricks is 10th in digs (164).

UP NEXT: The Blazers are back out on the road next week traveling to Tarleton State on Oct. 5 and Abilene Christian on Oct. 7.