Utah Valley University swept Sacramento State 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 26-24) on Saturday afternoon inside Lockhart Arena. During the match, UVU setter Evalyn Medaris finished with 22 assists and surpassed 3,000 career assists, becoming the fourth player in program history to reach the milestone.
The Wolverines utilized a balanced offensive attack to secure the victory. Miley Thunstrom and Chloe Hansen each recorded seven kills, while Olivia Gloeckner, Brielle Rueckert, and Alyvia Watkins each added five kills. Rueckert also totaled nine blocks, and Gloeckner finished with six blocks.
Utah Valley opened the match with an 8-0 run driven by five Hornet attack errors and kills from Thunstrom and Rueckert. Lani Toutai contributed a service ace during the stretch. UVU later built a 14-3 advantage after a Hansen kill and capitalized on Sacramento State miscues to take the first set 25-15. Thunstrom led the first-set offense with five kills.
Sacramento State's All-American Victoria Marthaler recorded a match-high 13 kills to help spark the Hornets in the second set. Hansen provided a counter with five kills as the teams battled through a contested frame. After trailing 15-13, Utah Valley tied the score following a block by Watkins and Gloeckner and a Hansen kill. The Wolverines overcame a 19-15 deficit with a 4-0 run sparked by a Watkins kill and a block assist by Watkins and Medaris. After a 23-23 tie, a block from Gloeckner and Rueckert gave UVU the edge, and a Thunstrom ace sealed the 25-23 set win.
Utah Valley carried momentum into the third set, using a 6-0 run to take a 7-2 lead. Although Sacramento State tied the set at 15 and later led 21-18, the Wolverines responded with an attack error by the Hornets, a Gloeckner-Rueckert block, and another Sacramento State error to even the score at 22-22. UVU regained the lead after Gloeckner and Rueckert teamed up for a block on Marthaler. A block by Hansen and Rueckert brought up match point, and while the Hornets tied the score at 24-24, a kill by Gloeckner created a second match point. The match ended following a Sacramento State attack error.
The Wolverines have recorded sweeps in two of their last three matches. UVU currently holds a 7-15 record, while Sacramento State is 10-11. Both teams are 5-5.
Utah Valley returns to the road to face California Baptist on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. MT. The team will conclude the month at UC Riverside on Saturday, Oct. 31, with a scheduled first serve at 2 p.m. MT.
