Match 15: Utah vs. CSUN
Friday, March 17 | 3:30 p.m. MT
Long Beach, Calif. | LBSU Sand Courts
Match 16: Utah vs. #16 Stetson
Friday, March 17 | 5:30 p.m. MT
Long Beach, Calif. | LBSU Sand Courts
Match 17: Utah vs. Texas
Saturday, March. 18 | 9:30 a.m. MT
Long Beach, Calif. | LBSU Sand Courts
Match 18: Utah vs. #13 Long Beach State
Saturday, March. 18 | 1:30 p.m. MT
Long Beach, Calif. | LBSU Sand Courts
MATCH WEEK
Utah Beach Volleyball returns to the road again, playing four matches at Long Beach State this weekend. The Utes are set to play CSUN on Friday, March 17, at 3:30 p.m. MT before taking on #16 Stetson at 5:30 p.m. MT. Continuing play on Saturday, March 18, the Utes will play Texas at 1:30 p.m. MT and #13 Long Beach State at 1:30 p.m. MT to close out the weekend of play.
QUICK HITS
• Utah returns 10 letterwinners returning from a year ago, while it welcomed five freshmen to the team and a redshirt sophomore from the indoor volleyball team.
• Following this weekend’s matches at Long Beach State, Utah will have played 14 straight matches in the state of California.
• The Utes do not have a home competition this season and will travel to four different states this season, which includes six trips to California.
• Brenda Whicker is entering her sixth season at the helm of the program. This is the second year Whicker will have a beach-recruited roster in Salt Lake City.
AT THE TOP
Sophomore Amaya Messier and freshman Katie McAlister have held down the top spot for the Utes in all but two matches this season and have posted a 6-6 record on court one. The Ute duo earned Utah’s sole dual point against UC Davis after taking a competitive three-set win, while they also earned a key win over Santa Clara’s top duo to guide the Utes to a 3-2 victory. The top pair for Utah picked up their first Pac-12 victory against Arizona State as well, winning 21-16, 21-17. McAlister has been a starter on court one all season and had paired with fellow freshman Chloe Narancich when Messier was out for an injury temporarily.
STRONG STARTS
Utah’s lineup has received a team-best seven wins from the duo of sophomore Sonja Wessel and freshman Savannah Cottam on court five. The pair got off to a hot start after winning four straight matches to start the season, which included Utah’s only dual point…
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