(Las Vegas - Aug. 30, 2025) - The Trailblazer volleyball team dropped a five-set battle to Iowa on Saturday night at The Rebel Challenge at Cox Pavilion.
Utah Tech (1-1) dropped the opening set, 25-18 before winning the second set, 25-14.
The third set went to Iowa (2-0), 25-15 with the Trailblazers rallying for a fourth set win, 25-22 to force a deciding fifth set.
The Trailblazers jumped ahead 7-4 in the fifth set, but it was all Hawkeyes from there as Iowa claimed the set, 15-11.
Senior
Kennedi Knudsen led the way with 15 kills and notched a double-double adding a team-leading 12 digs.
Led by the duo of
Sydney Reese and
Casidy Fried, the pair each tallied a team-leading seven blocks apiece while the duo of
Marley Roe and
Tehanie Waters added 20 assists and 11 assists, respectively.
How It Happened
After dropping the opening set, 25-18, the Trailblazers roared back in the second set dominating from the outset using a 6-0 run to take an 8-6 lead to 14-6 after blocks by
Nana Asiata and Knudsen.
A service ace by Knudsen pushed UT ahead, 21-10 and the Trailblazers went on to win the set, 25-14.
With the Hawkeyes jumping out to a 10-2 lead to the third set, Iowa took control early and never looked back as UT was able to get within four (17-13), but Iowa went on to claim the set by 10.
The fourth set saw an even start throughout with the Hawkeyes taking a 18-17 lead before the Trailblazers ripped off a 3-0 run with a pair of kills and a service ace by
Taylor Snow.
A kill by the Hawkeyes pulled Iowa within one at 23-22, as a kill by Knudsen and a Iowa attack error gave the Trailblazers the set to force a deciding fifth set.
After an attack error by Iowa pushed UT ahead 7-4 in the fifth set, the Hawkeyes went on an 8-2 run to jump ahead 12-9.
A kill by Fried brought the Trailblazers within two, but that was as close as UT could get with Iowa claiming the set by four.
Numbers To Know
- It was Utah Tech's fifth match against a Power Four conference member joining contests against Michigan State & BYU in 2021 and Michigan & Cal in 2022.
- The Trailblazers led the Hawkeyes in blocks (16-13) & service aces (4-3), but Iowa led the way in kills (63-50) & digs (69-51).
Up Next
The Trailblazers close out tournament action in Las Vegas on Sunday facing UNLV (1-1) at 5:30 p.m. MT.
