(Irvine, Calif. - Sept. 12, 2026) - The Trailblazers wrapped up the UC Irvine Invitational on Saturday afternoon sweeping the host Anteaters at the Bren Events Center.
Completing their second straight sweep of the tournament and third overall sweep of the season, Utah Tech (5-3) won sets 25-20, 25-22, 25-21 over UC Irvine (1-7).
Led by a 12-kill performance from junior opposite hitter
Sydney Reese, the Trailblazers also got a third double-double of the season from senior outside hitter
Tessa Treanor who tallied 10 kills & 12 digs.
The setting duo of
Marley Roe &Â
Tehanie Waters each posted 14 assists apiece while Waters notched a career-high 18 digs to lead the Trailblazers in digs for the first time this season.
Sophomore outside hitter
Annalyse Shimada, who came into the match with seven total blocks on the season in five matches, led the way at the net with eight blocks, including one solo.
How It Happened
The Trailblazers fell behind 6-3 in the early going of the opening set, but used a 4-0 run with a trio of UC Irvine attack errors and a service ace from Waters to take a 7-6 lead.
Pushing their lead to 14-11 after a kill by Reese and an ace by Roe, UT stayed in front by three at 20-17.
After a UCI attack error, Utah Tech closed out the set with a kill by Roe & an attack error by the Anteaters for the five-point set win.
Battling back from a 10-8 lead for UCI in the second set, the Trailblazers tied up the set at 11 after blocks by Reese &
Shaylee Dahle.
Back-to-back kills by Treanor extended UT's lead to 18-15, but the Anteaters went on a 4-1 run to lock up the set at 19.
Blocks by
Nana Asiata & Shimada put the Trailblazers in front, 23-20 and after a pair of points by UCI brought the Anteaters within one, a kill by Asiata and blocks from Dahle & Asiata closed out the exciting set win.
The Trailblazers wrapped up the match in the third set hitting .308 getting out to an 8-6 lead after a kill by Reese and pushed their lead to 12-7 after a 4-1 run.
UCI answered back with a 4-1 run of their own to cut the Trailblazers' lead down to 13-11, but five straight points for UT extended their lead to 18-11.
The Trailblazers stretched their lead to as many as eight at 23-15 after an Anteater attack error.
UCI stuck around going on a 6-1 run to trim cut UT's lead to 24-21, but a kill by Asiata sealed the sweep.
Numbers to Know
- The Trailblazers led the Anteaters in hitting percentage (.184-.094), service aces (2-1) &Â blocks (15-6) while UCI led the way in kills (43-40), digs (77-71) & assists (38-37).
- The 15.0 blocks for the Trailblazers are a season high and third time this season they have reached double figures in that category.
- It was the first time Reese has led the Trailblazers in kills this season and her second-most kills of the season behind 13 against UC San Diego on Sept. 4.
- Treanor has now reached double figures in kills in four straight matches.
- The 5-3 start is the fourth time in the Division I era the Trailblazers have at least five wins in their first eight matches joining 2022, 2024 & 2025.
Up Next
The Trailblazers close out non-conference play next week at the Utah Tech Tournament hosting UC Riverside (2-6) & Chicago State (0-9) on Friday and Saturday at Burns Arena.
