SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Utah volleyball team ended the USD Invitational with a split on Saturday, defeating UConn in four sets (25-20, 20-25, 25-14, 25-18) and dropping a five-set road battle to No. 12-ranked San Diego (25-22, 15-25, 18-25, 25-17, 9-15).
Utah 3, UConn 1
Utah used a 6-1 run in the opening frame to pull out to a 12-8 advantage, but UConn later responded with a 6-1 run of its own to force Utah to call timeout and talk it over. Out of the break, the Utes scored seven of the next nine points and led 21-17 late in the first set. The Huskies managed to trim the lead to just two after scoring consecutive points, but a kill from Amelia Van Der Werff started a 4-1 run to end the set and win 25-20.
Utah had four players with at least three kills hitting above .300, highlighted by four kills on four swings by KJ Burgess and Madelyn Robinson’s six kills. Vanessa Ramirez also collected seven digs to pace the defensive efforts.
UConn turned the tides in the second set after jumping out to a 9-5 lead, however, a 6-1 run for the Utes sent the Huskies behind in the count 11-10. Later leading 15-14, Utah gave up six straight points to fall behind 20-15. Although the Utes cut the UConn lead to just 21-19 shortly after, Utah could not complete the rally and saw UConn score four of the next five points to tie the match 1-1.
Utah pounced on UConn right away to begin the third set, jumping out to an 11-1 lead. The closest the Huskies…
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