Though the Utah volleyball team has reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for three years running, the Utes did not garner true respect on a nation-wide basis until they recovered from a 2-0 deficit to knock off then-No. 1-ranked Stanford back on Sept. 5, 2000.
Significant as that win was for the program’s evolution into one of the nation’s elite, it may not match this past Saturday’s victory over Colorado State.
As a result of the Utes’ five game victory over the previously undefeated Rams, they have earned the highest ranking in their history, moving up to No. 14 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll released Monday.
Going into the match, the Utes were unbeaten at their Crimson Court home, while CSU was undefeated?period. The Rams had amassed a whopping 20-0 record and risen to No. 6 in the AVCA rankings.
Something had to give.
Handing the Rams their first loss of the year serves several functional purposes for the U. Not only does it give them an outside shot at the MWC title heading into the final weekend of the regular season, it also increases their stature among those who will decide the seeding for the NCAA Tournament in late November through mid-December.
Utah’s primary goal this year is to take the next step and advance to the Sweet 16 at NCAAs. The primary hindrance to that has been relatively low seeding at the national tourney and subsequently running into a top seed in the second round every year.
Now possessed of a 5-3 mark against AVCA top-25 teams, the Utes have a better shot at a higher seed, and consequently, advancing further into the NCAA tournament.
Player of the Week
For the second time this season, Utah’s Kim Turner, a sophomore middle blocker, has been named the MWC’s Player of the Week.
After totaling 6 kills, 3 digs and 3 blocks against Wyoming on Friday, Turner stepped it up Saturday vs. CSU, registering a career-high 11 blocks and adding 10 kills (for her first career double-double), while also posting a .375 hitting percentage.
She also won the award on Oct. 22.