Women's Volleyball | 10/1/2024 3:15:00 PM

Who | Utah Tech (8-4, 2-0 WAC) at Utah Valley (10-4, 1-1 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 3 – 7 p.m.
Where | Lockhart Arena - Orem, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Who | Utah Tech (8-4, 2-0 WAC) at Southern Utah (6-7, 2-0 WAC)
When | Saturday, Oct. 5 – 1 p.m.
Where | America First Event Center - Cedar City, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

OPENING SERVE
Utah Tech kicked off its fifth season of WAC play last week getting off to a 2-0 start after a sweep over Abilene Christian and a four-set win against Tarleton State.

It is the Trailblazers' first 2-0 start to WAC play and was the first win against Tarleton State since 2021 and Abilene Christian since 2022.

HOT START
The Trailblazers are off to their third start of 8-4 or better (in the NCAA era) after 12 matches only being bested by 2009 and 2018.

2024: 8-4        2018: 10-2        2009: 9-3

HOWARD MOVING UP CAREER RANKS
Redshirt senior opposite hitter Hannah Howard continues to move up the career ranks in both kills (635 - 7th) and attacks (1,843 - 8th).

Howard has tallied double-digit kills in four contests with a season-high 13 at Gonzaga on Sept. 6.

WAC RANKINGS
The Trailblazers lead the WAC in opponent hitting percentage (.164) while ranking third in blocks per set (2.47) and blocks (116.0).

UT also ranks fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.207), digs per set (13.57), kills per set (12.53) and assists per set (11.45).

Individually, junior Taylor Snow has been a blocking machine sitting third in blocks per set (1.22) and fourth in blocks (56).

Junior outside hitter Kennedi Knudsen, who has led the Trailblazers in kills in 10 of 12 matches this season, ranks fourth in kills (172) and fifth in kills per set (3.66).

KNUDSEN A STANDOUT IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
The Trailblazers went 6-4 in non-conference action with Kennedi Knudsen earning MVP honors at both the season-opening Weber State Invitational and the Gonzaga Tournament along with All-Tournament honors at the College of Charleston Invitational.

ON THE ROAD
Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006, Utah Tech has recorded a 98-102 (.490) 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 44-51 (.452) record in neutral-site games with a 5-0 mark in 2024.

A LOOK AT UTAH VALLEY
The Wolverines are 10-4 overall on the season with a 1-1 mark in the WAC. UVU is coming off a four-set win at Seattle U on Monday after falling in straight sets to previously winless California Baptist on Sept. 26.

The Wolverines are 4-0 at home on the season and currently sit atop the WAC in aces per set (1.78), blocks per set (2.69) and total aces (89). 

Individually, junior outside hitter Avery Shewell leads the WAC and ranks top 20 nationally in aces per set (0.57) and service aces (27). Junior middle blocker Bella Wooden has been a force at the net ranking in the top 10 in the nation in blocks per set (3rd-1.53) and blocks (8th-75).

SERIES HISTORY VS. UTAH VALLEY
The Trailblazers trail the all-time series against Utah Valley, 0-7. UT is 0-4 all-time on the road against the Wolverines with losses in 2006, 2021, 2022 & 2023.

The Blazers fell in five sets in the regular season finale in Orem last season with Knudsen leading the team with 25 kills and 12 digs.

A LOOK AT SOUTHERN UTAH
The Thunderbirds are 6-7 overall on the season and join the Trailblazers and UT Arlington as the final three teams sitting 2-0 in the WAC after home sweeps over Tarleton State and Abilene Christian last week.

Southern Utah ranks second in the WAC in digs per set (14.59) & attacks per set (36.24) wile checking in third in assists per set (11.76), kills per set (12.57) and total digs (671).

Individually, senior setter Teniyah Leuluai sits third in the WAC in assists per set (8.20) and senior middle blocker Carissa Richie is sixth in the conference in both blocks (53.0) and blocks per set (1.15).

SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHERN UTAH
The Blazers and Thunderbirds have met seven times with SUU leading, 4-3.

Utah Tech swept Southern Utah at home last season before falling in five sets on the road. Overall, UT is 1-3 on the road against the Thunderbirds with a win in its first contest in Cedar City in the spring of 2021.

WAC TOURNAMENT
The WAC Tournament is set for Nov. 21-23 in Arlington, Texas hosted at the College Park Center.

UP NEXT
The Trailblazers return home to host Grand Canyon (8-5, 1-1 WAC) on Oct. 10 and California Baptist (1-13, 1-1 WAC) on Oct. 12.