Traveling to Santa Clara, California, the SUU volleyball team was defeated by Fresno State before rebounding with a win against host Santa Clara on Friday.
Match 1 vs. Fresno State
The first set in the first match against the Bulldogs began as a tight one, with both teams knotted at 12 all through 24 points. Fresno State then answered by taking three of the next four points, taking a 15-13 lead. The T-birds responded with a 4-0 spurt to jump in front 17-15, but two quick Bulldog points tied the score once again. With Fresno State in front 21-19, SUU responded with a 6-0 run to win the set, 25-21 and take a 1-0 match lead.
Set two was highlighted by big runs from both teams. A 6-0 Fresno State spurt but the Bulldogs up 9-3, and the next T-bird point was followed up with a 4-0 run by Fresno to make the score 13-4. Southern Utah responded despite the deficit, taking 10 of the next 12 points to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to just one, 15-14. Fresno State would respond with a run of its own, tallying 12 of the final 15 points to take the set 25-17 and even the match score at 1-1.
The third set began much like the first one, as both teams remained tied deep into the set. With the score even at 15, the T-birds took five of the next eight points to take a two-point lead (20-18). Fresno State answered by notching four of the next six points, tying the set at 22. Two quick kills by the Bulldogs gave them a two-point lead and an SUU point then made it 24-23. However, Fresno State responded with the last point of the set, winning 25-23 and taking a 2 sets to 1 lead.
Set four was even early, with the two sides tied at 3-3 after six points. The Bulldogs pulled away from there, using a pair of 4-0 runs to take an 18-11 lead. The deficit was too much to overcome for the Thunderbirds, as Fresno State finished off a 25-16 set win to take the match 3-1.
Teniyah Leuluai led the T-birds in assists in the match with 34, while Andrea Spasojevic notched a team-high 17 kills.
Match 2 vs. Santa Clara
Southern Utah came out strong in the first set against the hosts, taking a 5-0 lead. Santa Clara began to get a feel for the match, cutting the deficit to 15-11 before eventually tying the score at 24. Both teams split the next eight points to make the score 28 all, but the Broncos would notch the final two points to take set one, 30-28.
The second set was all Santa Clara, as the home side ran out to a 15-7 lead. A 3-0 SUU run cut the deficit to 15-10, but that is as close as it would get. The Broncos would score 10 of the final 13 points, winning the set 25-13 and taking a 2-0 match advantage.
Set three was back-and-forth early, with the score tied through 18 points (9-9). A 5-0 T-birds’ spurt put them in front, but a Santa Clara response trimmed the deficit to just two, 18-16. SUU took six of the next 10 points to extend the lead to four (24-20), but consecutive points from the Broncos once again made it closer, 24-22. The Thunderbirds closed the door on a sweep attempt though, tallying the final point to win the set 25-24 and cutting the match deficit to 2-1.
The fourth set was tied early once again, with the teams splitting the first 14 points (7-7). Southern Utah took a 15-12 lead by notching eight of the next 13 points, and the advantage grew from there. Using runs of 4-0 and 5-0, the T-birds won the set 25-17 and tied the match at 2-2.
The fifth and final set was tight early, with the teams even at 4-4 through eight points. Santa Clara then went on a 4-1 run, taking the 8-5 lead. The Thunderbirds responded with a 4-1 spurt of their own, tying the score at 9-9. Both sides exchanged points from there, with SUU taking a slim 13-12 advantage late in the set. Thanks to a few Santa Clara miscues, the T-birds scored two of the final three points to win the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.
Andrea Spasojevic led the team in kills once more, totaling 17 in the match. Teniyah Leuluai again led the way in assists, picking up 35 against the Broncos.
Up next
SUU (4-4) returns home next, hosting Northern Arizona on Tuesday, September 17.
The match between the former conference rivals begins at 6:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.
