(Orem, Utah - Aug. 28, 2026) - The Trailblazers opened the 2026 season on Friday with a four-set win over Utah Valley and swept Oregon State at the Utah Valley Invitational at Lockhart Arena.
In a rematch of last season's WAC Tournament final, the Trailblazers downed Utah Valley in four sets, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22, 25-11.
In the victory over the Wolverines, senior
Nana Asiata led the Trailblazers with 16 kills and matched her career high with six assists to go along with four digs.
Junior middle blocker
Lusia Langi was second on the team in both kills (9) and blocks (5) while hitting .571.
Senior setter
Marley Roe tallied a double-double with a team-leading 28 assists adding 11 digs and senior libero
Mya Laufiso led the team with 18 digs.
In the nightcap, the Trailblazers sailed past Oregon State, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19 to complete their first sweep of the season.
Asiata again led the Trailblazers with 12 kills and senior outside hitter
Tessa Treanor added eight kills and five digs.
Roe and sophomore setter
Tehanie Waters each tied for the team lead with 17 assists apiece while Langi tied her career high with six blocks tacking on seven kills.
How It Happened vs. Utah Valley
The Trailblazers raced out to a 14-3 lead in the opening set and continued to lead by 11 after a kill by Asiata pushed UT in front, 18-7.
A kill by Langi kept the Trailblazers up 20-9, but a 12-4 run by the Wolverines cut UT's lead to 24-21. A kill by Asiata ended UVU's run and sealed the win in the opening set.
The second set saw the Trailblazers get out to a 14-9 lead after a kill by Treanor, push their lead to 17-11 with a kill by junior
Sydney Reese and lead 20-14 after an attack error by the Wolverines.
UVU responded with an 11-1 run to close out the set scoring the final nine points of the set to even the match at one set apiece.
With the Wolverines leading 14-12 in the third set, a 6-1 run for the Trailblazers pushed UT ahead, 18-15 after a service ace by Waters going on to win the set, 25-22.Â
The fourth set saw the Trailblazers get out to a 14-10 lead and close out the match on an 11-1 run to seal the victory.
How It Happened vs. Oregon State
Oregon State, coming off a 19-win season in 2025, got out to a 6-3 lead in the opening set with the Trailblazers answering back with a 6-1 run to go ahead, 9-7.
With the Beavers leading 11-10, a kill by Reese tied the set at 11 and blocks by Langi &
Cale Torgerson gave UT a 16-12 lead.
Continuing to trade points back and forth, the Trailblazers closed out the set with back-to-back blocks for an early 1-0 lead.
A kill by Langi & an attack error by the Beavers put the Trailblazers up 15-10 in the second set.
UT was able to stay ahead of OSU down the stretch of the set leading 24-23 and closed out the set with a kill from Reese.
A quick start to the third set by the Trailblazers put UT up 11-5 and a kill by Treanor kept UT in the lead, 15-9 midway through the set.
Four straight points for the Trailblazers extended UT's lead to 22-13 and the final two points of the match for the Trailblazers went to Langi & Asiata on kills to complete the sweep.
Numbers to Know
- In the win over Utah Valley, the Trailblazers led the Wolverines in hitting percentage (.281-.161), kills (56-47), service aces (7-3), digs (58-54) and assists (50-42).
- In the sweep over Oregon State, UT led the Beavers in blocks (10-4) & hitting percentage (.365-.188).
- It is only the third 2-0 start to a season in the NCAA era joining 2009 when the Trailblazers got off to a program-best 5-0 start.
- Utah Tech improves to 10-11 in both season & road openers in the NCAA era.
Up Next
The Trailblazers close out the Utah Valley Invitational on Saturday afternoon against Utah at 1 p.m. at Lockhart Arena.
