Women's Volleyball | 9/11/2024 12:30:00 PM

Who | Utah Tech (4-1) vs. Middle Tennessee (2-4)
When | Friday, Sept. 13 – 9 a.m. MT
Where | TD Arena - Charleston, S.C.
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Who | Utah Tech (4-1) at College of Charleston (3-4)
When | Friday, Sept. 13 - 5 p.m. MT
Where | TD Arena - Charleston, S.C.
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

Who | Utah Tech (4-1) vs. Robert Morris (3-3)
When | Saturday, Sept. 14 - 3 p.m. MT
Where | TD Arena - Charleston, S.C.
Social Media | Instagram + Twitter (X) + #UtahTechBlazers

OPENING SERVE
Utah Tech is coming off winning a pair of matches at the Gonzaga Tournament sweeping Cal State Fullerton and rallied back for a five-set win over Gonzaga winning the fourth and fifth sets.

HOT START
The Trailblazers are off to their first 4-1 start since 2018 and out to their best start through five matches since starting 5-0 in 2009.

KNUDSEN EARNS SECOND STRAIGHT MVP HONOR 
Junior outside hitter Kennedi Knudsen earned her second straight MVP Tournament honors at the Gonzaga Tournament after tallying 31 kills along with 15 digs in a pair of matches in Spokane.

TRIO TABBED ALL-TOURNAMENT
For a second straight tournament, three Trailblazers were tabbed All-Tournament selections. Knudsen was joined by Taylor Snow and Tessa Treanor on the Gonzaga Tournament team.

Snow tallied 13 kills in the tournament with five coming against the Titans and eight versus the Bulldogs. Treanor had a standout weekend with a double-double against Gonzaga (11 kills, 14 digs) and added 11 kills versus Fullerton.

WAC RANKINGS
The Trailblazers are among the WAC leaders ranking second in the conference in blocks per set (2.45) and third in hitting percentage (.233), total blocks (49.0) and opponent hitting percentage (.164).

Individually, newcomer Casidy Fried ranks third in the WAC in blocks (26) and blocks per set (1.30).

Knudsen, who has led the team in kills in all five matches, ranks fourth in kills per set (3.70) and her 74 kills are the fifth-most in the WAC.

ON THE ROAD
Since joining the NCAA ranks in 2006, Utah Tech has recorded a 98-100 (.495) 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 42-51 (.452) record in neutral-site games with a 3-0 mark in 2024.

A LOOK AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
This will be the first meeting against Middle Tennessee in program history and second against a member of Conference USA joining four meetings against New Mexico State.

The Blue Raiders are 2-4 on the season with a five-set win over Southeast Missouri and a sweep over Austin Peay last weekend at the Blue Raider Bash.

Coming off a 20-10 season in 2023 and a tie for second in C-USA, the Blue Raiders rank fourth in the conference in kills per set (12.70), kills (292) and blocks (50.0).

Junior outside hitter Adriana Rhoda leads the team in kills per set (3.35) and sits fifth in the C-USA in kills (77).

Freshman middle blocker Emma Nilson has a team-high 22.0 blocks ranking fourth in the league in blocks per set (1.38).

A LOOK AT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
This will also be the Trailblazers' first meeting against the College of Charleston and first against an opponent from the CAA.

The Cougars, who went 14-16 overall in 2023 along with finishing in a tie for fourth in the CAA, are out to a 3-4 start to the season with wins over Western Carolina, Yale and USC Upstate.

College of Charleston ranks third in the CAA in blocks per set (2.68) & blocks (67.0) and fifth in digs per set (15.28).

Individually, graduate student middle blocker Caitlyn Callahan ranks third in the conference in blocks per set (1.22) and fourth in total blocks (28).

Senior defensive specialist Tynley Smeltzer ranks fifth in the CAA in digs (99) and seventh in digs per set (3.96).

A LOOK AT ROBERT MORRIS
This will be the Trailblazers' first meeting against Robert Morris and first versus a member of the Horizon League.

Robert Morris, who went 7-22 overall and tied for eighth in the Horizon with Youngstown State in 2023, are 3-3 on the season with wins against USC Upstate, Missouri State and Coppin State.

The Colonials lead the Horizon League in aces per set (1.96) and aces (49) along with blocks (65.5) and blocks per set (2.62).

Sophomore middle blocker Azra Eric sits atop the Horizon in blocks (40) and blocks per set (1.60) while junior right side Hillarie Adams leads the team in kills (64).

UP NEXT
The Trailblazers wrap up non-conference action next week with their home opener against Northern Arizona (2-4) on Sept. 19 before heading to Flagstaff for a road contest versus the Lumberjacks on Sept. 21.