Women's Volleyball | 10/22/2024 3:45:00 PM

Who | Utah Tech (11-7, 5-3 WAC) at Abilene Christian (8-11, 3-5 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 24 – 5 p.m. MT
Where | Moody Coliseum - Abilene, Texas
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Who | Utah Tech (11-7, 5-3 WAC) at Tarleton State (6-15, 1-7 WAC)
When | Saturday, Oct. 26 – 12 p.m. MT
Where | Wisdom Gym - Stephenville, Texas
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

OPENING SERVE
Utah Tech is coming off a 1-1 week being swept for only the second time this season last Saturday at WAC leader UT Arlington before returning home to down Southern Utah in four sets on Monday night.

The Trailblazers dropped sets, 25-14, 25-16, 25-21 to the Mavericks, but came back on Monday to defeat the Thunderbirds.

The Blazers took sets, 25-15, 22-25, 25-14, 25-21 behind double-doubles by Kennedi Knudsen (15 kills, 12 digs) and Tessa Treanor (12 kills, 10 digs) along with seven blocks by Casidy Fried and four service aces by Mya Laufiso.

DOUBLE DIGIT WIN SEASONS
For the second time in the Trailblazers' five seasons in Division I, Utah Tech has reached double digit wins with 11 victories. 

The Blazers also posted 11 wins in 2022 and will look to set a new season win mark this weekend against Abilene Christian and Tarleton.

WAC RANKINGS
As a team, the Trailblazers rank second in the WAC in opponent hitting percentage (.164) and sit third in blocks per set (2.60) & total blocks (177.0).

Individually, junior Casidy Fried continues to be a stalwart at the net checking in third in blocks per set (1.34) and ranks fourth in total blocks (90).

Knudsen, who has led the Trailblazers in kills in 16 of 18 matches this season, ranks fifth in the conference in kills (241) and is sixth in kills per set (3.54).

Laufiso checks in sixth in the WAC in digs (241) and has led the Blazers in digs in 12 matches.

LAUFISO EARNS SECOND WAC WEEKLY HONOR
Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Mya Laufiso earned her second WAC Libero of the Week honor on Oct. 16 after totaling 41 digs in matches against Grand Canyon and California Baptist.

Laufiso notched a career-high 26 digs in a four-set battle against Grand Canyon on Oct. 10 and also earned the honor on Sept. 18 after her performance at the College of Charleston Classic.

HOWARD MOVING UP CAREER RANKS
Redshirt senior opposite hitter Hannah Howard continues to move up the career ranks in both kills (674 - 4th) and attacks (1,959 - 7th).

Howard has tallied double-digit kills in five contests with a season-high 13 at Gonzaga on Sept. 6 and will look to move into the top 10 in sets played this weekend as she enters with 303 career sets played and sits only five shy of the top 10 mark.

A LOOK AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN
The Wildcats are 8-11 overall on the season and 3-5 in the WAC, tied with Seattle U for sixth in the conference.

Currently on a three-game skid, ACU has picked up WAC wins over California Baptist, Seattle U and Tarleton State.

The Wildcats currently rank fifth in the WAC in opponent hitting percentage (.200) and team attacks per set (34.60).

Individually, senior outside hitter Bryley Steinhilber ranks eighth in the WAC in kills per set (3.14) and has a team-leading 204 kills.

Senior setter Madeline Guffy leads the Wildcats with 442 assists while sophomore middle blocker Hannah Gonzalez has tallied a team-leading 57.0 blocks.

SERIES HISTORY VS. ABILENE CHRISTIAN
The Trailblazers and Abilene Christian will play for the sixth time in series history with UT currently leading the series, 3-2.

The Blazers swept the Wildcats at home earlier this season and also have a win at home over ACU in 2022 and in five sets in Abilene in 2021.

A LOOK AT TARLETON STATE
The Texans are 6-15 overall on the season with a 1-7 mark in the WAC posting a five-set win over California Baptist on Oct. 17. Tarleton is 4-3 at home on the season.

The Texans lead the WAC in digs per set (16.43), digs (1,380), kills (1,015), total team attacks (3,113) and assists (947).

Individually, senior Emma Halcomb leads the WAC in digs (318) and ranks third in the WAC in digs per set (3.88).

Senior outside hitter Allison Bryant sits in the top five in the conference in kills (2nd, 310) and kills per set (5th, 3.69).

SERIES HISTORY VS. TARLETON STATE
The Trailblazers and Tarleton State have met seven times in series history with UT leading the series, 4-3. 

Utah Tech downed the Texans in four sets earlier this season at home and won the only contest between the two programs last season winning a five-set battle in Stephensville.

NON-CONFERENCE ACTION
The Trailblazers went 6-4 in non-conference action with Knudsen earning MVP honors at both the season-opening Weber State Invitational and the Gonzaga Tournament.

Knudsen along with Taylor Snow earned All-Tournament honors at the College of Charleston Invitational.

Howard, Laufiso and Nana Asiata collected All-Tournament honors at the Weber State Invitational. The following weekend saw Knudsen, Tessa Treanor and Snow earn All-Tournament honors at the Gonzaga Tournament.

WAC TOURNAMENT
The WAC Tournament is set for Nov. 21-23 in Arlington, Texas hosted at the College Park Center with the top eight teams qualifying for postseason play.

UP NEXT
The Trailblazers are back home next week to host Seattle U (5-13, 3-5 WAC) on Oct. 31 and Utah Valley (14-6, 5-3 WAC) on Nov. 2.