Facing an in-state rival, SUU fell in four sets to Utah Valley on Thursday night.
Set one was close at the start, as the two teams were knotted after 30 points (15-15). The Wolverines pushed ahead using a 6-1 spurt, and that was enough to keep the T-birds at bay. Despite cutting the deficit to four (21-17), SUU saw UVU end the set on a 4-0 run to win 25-17 and take a 1-0 advantage in the match.
Aside from the opening point, the Wolverines led the entire way in set two. After the T-birds opened with the first point, UVU answered with seven straight to jump ahead 7-1. Utah Valley would push its advantage to 10 (24-14), as SUU would never get closer than six following the opening run from the visitors. UVU would close out the set, winning 25-16 and taking a 2-0 match lead.
The Thunderbirds took an early 3-0 lead in set three, but the set would go back and forth from there. A 7-1 run put UVU in front (7-4), but SUU answered with a 6-1 spurt to get back in front (10-8). The Wolverines cut the deficit to one (11-10), but three straight T-bird points pushed the lead to four (14-10). Utah Valley kept it close for the remainder of the set, but Southern Utah was able to stay in front and win the set 25-22 and make it a 2-1 match.
SUU began the fourth set with the lead, jumping out to a 15-10 advantage. The Wolverines would respond with a 7-1 run, taking a 17-16 lead. After the T-birds knotted the score at 17, Utah Valley would once again get ahead, taking a 22-19 advantage. Southern Utah answered with a 3-0 spurt to even the score at 22, but the Wolverines finished the frame on a 3-1 run to win 25-23 and secure a 3-1 match victory.
Teniyah Leuluai led the T-birds in defeat, tallying 38 assists. Both Andrea Spasojevic and Finley Charapata led the team in kills with 13.
Up next
Southern Utah (8-14, 4-7 WAC) now hosts Seattle U hoping to end a six-match slide.
The T-birds will battle the Redhawks on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. MT. The match can be seen on ESPN+.
