Wolverines Outlasted in First Round of NCAA Tournament
OMAHA, Neb. – The Utah Valley volleyball team fell in four sets (21-25, 16-25, 25-20, 22-25) to Texas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines concluded their season with a 14-6 record.
The Bobcats controlled the match as they posted better numbers in kills (59-45), assists (52-40) and digs (62-47) in the opening round matchup. Texas State also finished the match with a .238 hitting percentage, including hitting .387 in the second set. Utah Valley did prove to be tough at the net, out-blocking Texas State 13-9.
Sophomore Tori Dorius led the way for the Wolverines as she finished the match with 14 kills on .321 hitting. WAC Player of the Year Kazna Tanuvasa pitched in as well, recording 11 kills and three digs. Senior Seren Jardine posted 14 digs while Bryton Bishop added four service aces.
Utah Valley fell behind 18-11 in set one before it went on a 5-1 run to close the gap to just three points late in the set. The Bobcats eventually closed out the first set, winning by a score of 25-21.
Texas State came out with a purpose in set No. 2 as they dominated to take the set 25-16. The Bobcats held UVU to just .148 hitting in the second set.
The third set was all Utah Valley as they jumped out to a quick 6-2 advantage led by a pair of kills from Dorius. The Bobcats never got closer than three points from the Wolverines as a Tanuvasa kill closed out a 25-20 set win.
In what would be Utah Valley's final set of the season, the Wolverines absorbed a 5-0 run from Texas State to start the match as they battled back to make the Bobcats earn it at the end. Texas State eventually closed out the set and the match, taking the final set 25-22.