Women's Volleyball | 10/8/2024 12:30:00 PM

Who | Utah Tech (9-5, 3-1 WAC) vs. Grand Canyon (10-5, 3-1 WAC)
When | Thursday, Oct. 10 – 6 p.m.
Where | Burns Arena - St. George, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Who | Utah Tech (9-5, 3-1 WAC) vs. California Baptist (1-15, 1-3 WAC)
When | Saturday, Oct. 12 – 1 p.m.
Where | Burns Arena - St. George, Utah
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

OPENING SERVE
Utah Tech opened the month of October last week splitting a pair of road matches in Utah.

The Trailblazers opened action on Thursday with a sweep at Utah Valley, its first-ever win over the Wolverines, before ending the week at Southern Utah on Saturday falling in four sets.

Junior outside hitter Kennedi Knudsen led the Blazers in kills in both matches while sophomore libero Mya Laufiso tallied a team-high 13 digs in each match.

HOT START
The Trailblazers are off to their third start of 9-5 or better (in the NCAA era) after 14 matches only being bested by 2009 and 2018.
2024: 9-5        2018: 11-3        2009: 10-4

WAC RANKINGS
The Trailblazers continue to lead the WAC in opponent hitting percentage (.159) after holding Utah Valley to a .008 hitting percentage. The Blazers also rank third in blocks per set (2.59), blocks (140.0), kills per set (12.56) and hitting percentage (.209).

Individually, junior Casidy Fried has been a blocking machine sitting fourth in the conference in both blocks (68.0) and blocks per set (1.28).

Knudsen, who has led the Trailblazers in kills in 12 of 14 matches this season, checks in fourth in kills (197) and is fourth in kills per set (3.65).

HOWARD MOVING UP CAREER RANKS
Redshirt senior opposite hitter Hannah Howard continues to move up the career ranks in both kills (654 - 7th) and attacks (1,888 - 8th).

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

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. 

A LOOK AT GRAND CANYON
The Antelopes are 10-5 overall on the season with a 3-1 mark in the WAC and are on a three-match winning streak with wins over California Baptist, Utah Valley and Seattle U.    

The Lopes, who were picked to win the WAC regular season, are 2-1 on the road and lead the WAC in blocks per set (2.78) and total blocks (161.5). GCU checks in second in the WAC in digs per set (14.10), hitting percentage (.224) and total attacks (1,998).

Individually, junior outside hitter Tatum Parrott, the WAC Preseason Player of the Year, has been a dominant force leading the WAC in attacks per set (11.86) and is second in kills per set (4.14).

SERIES HISTORY VS. GRAND CANYON
The Blazers and Lopes have met 23 times with Grand Canyon leading 15-8.

The Lopes, who swept both matches over UT in 2023, have won four straight matches in the series.

The Trailblazers are 5-5 at home in the series with their last win coming in the fall of 2021.

A LOOK AT CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Lancers are 1-15 overall on the season and 1-3 in the WAC with its lone win coming in a home sweep over Utah Valley on Sept. 26.    

CBU, who is 0-5 on the road this season, rank fifth in the WAC in service aces per set (1.54), service aces (86) and total team attacks (1,885).    

Individually, senior outside hitter Mia Jerue ranks second in the conference in service aces (27) and eighth in total digs (169).

SERIES HISTORY VS. CALIFORNIA BAPTIST
The Trailblazers and Lancers have met 22 times in series history with California Baptist leading 15-7.

The Blazers, who were swept by CBU in both matches last season, are 6-6 at home over the Lancers with its last win at Burns Arena coming on Nov. 13, 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 head to UT Arlington (14-2, 4-0 WAC) on Oct. 19 and return home to host Southern Utah (7-8, 3-1 WAC) on Oct. 21 at Burns Arena.