Losing even one game on last weekend’s road trip seemed improbable for the University of Utah volleyball team, as the Utes were facing the two worst teams in the conference.
New Mexico and Air Force had combined for a total of one conference win, while Utah was a on a tear, winning 12 of its last 13 matches.
However, Utah went into New Mexico Friday and, shockingly, dropped the first game 32-34.
The stunning first-game loss convinced the Utes to wake up out of their funk and play dominating volleyball for the rest of the weekend, as they beat New Mexico 32-34, 30 20, 30-28, 30-19, then swept Air Force 30-16, 30-13, 30 19.
“New Mexico came out very aggressive in the first game,” said Ute coach Beth Launiere. “We found some weaknesses and played very well the last three games.”
The first-game problems did not plague the Utes the following night, as Air Force provided meager competition and was crushed by Utah in three games, extending AFA’s conference losing streak to 28 matches over the last two years.
“Our team came out focused tonight, and we got a good road win,” Launiere said.
Utah hit very well in both matches and had great play at the net.
Against New Mexico, the Utes hit for an amazing attack percentage of .384, while they held the Lobos to .223.
The setting for the Utes was outstanding, as Jackie Morrill and Kelsie Kartchner combined for 62 assists, which resulted in six U players recording 10 kills or more, including junior outside hitter Sylva Strzinkov’s team-high 19 kills. She added a match-high 18 digs.
Katrena Ellett, Alisa Geddes, Adrianne Bradley?Drake, Kim Turner and McKelle Stilson each added 11 kills or more.
New Mexico had solid play out of two players, as Anna Reines had a match-high 21 kills and Vanessa Shields added 12.
After subsequently losing to BYU on Saturday, New Mexico drops to 3-17 overall, 1-9 in conference play.
Air Force played even worse than New Mexico and might as well have not shown up to the match.
The Falcons were dominated at the net, as they were outblocked 12 to 5, and their attack percentage was an atrocious ?.068, meaning Air Force had more attack errors than kills on the night.
Delavane Diaz was the only player for the Falcons to have a positive attack percentage, as she hit .200 on her way to 10 kills.
For the Utes, Stilson led with 11 kills on .533 hitting, while Bradley-Drake, Ellett and Strzinkov all added 8 kills apiece, and Turner had a match-high killing percentage of . 667.
The two wins increased the Utes’ record to 14-4 overall, 8-2 in conference play, while the Falcons record drops to 1 17 overall and 0-11 in the conference.
“We set some other goals this week and were able to meet them,” Launiere said.