The Utah Tech volleyball team opened Big Sky play with a sweep of Portland State, marking the program's fifth consecutive sweep. The win moves the Trailblazers to an 8-3 record and 1-0 in conference play.
In the volleyball victory, Utah Tech defeated Portland State with set scores of 25-14, 25-23, and 25-14. Senior opposite hitter Nana Asiata contributed 13 kills, while Sydney Reese added eight kills. The duo of Tehanie Waters and Marley Roe provided 15 and 19 assists, respectively. Defensively, Mya Laufiso recorded 14 digs, while Roe and Tessa Treanor each tallied 13. Asiata and Annalyse Shimada tied for the team lead with four blocks each.
The Utah Tech women's tennis team began its fall season at the Idaho State Invitational, which took place from September 18-20. Head coach Eric Pelton described the performance as the strongest ever at the tournament and a dominant start to the year. Ana Gutierrez Sampere went undefeated during the weekend, winning three singles and three doubles matches. Maya Inouye and freshman Adriana Zurita Berdecio both won three of their four singles matches.
In cross country, the Trailblazers competed at the UC-Irvine Invitational. The men's team placed fifth out of 25 teams, with senior Ryan Hatch finishing 14th in the 8K race with a time of 23:59.4. The women's team placed 15th out of 30 schools, led by Averie Perriton, who finished 22nd. Snow Canyon alumna Hailee Phillips was the Blazers' second-highest finisher, placing 91st in the 6K race.
Golf updates included the women's team placing ninth out of 15 teams at the Eastern Washington Kalispel Invitational in Spokane, Washington. The team finished with a three-round total of plus-30 894. The men's team finished 12th out of 18 teams at the 57th-Annual Air Force Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational in Colorado Springs, completing the event with a three-round total of plus-13 877.
Utah Tech is scheduled to host the annual Teddy Bear Toss on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Burns Arena. The event features a match against Southern Utah University, and fans are encouraged to bring new teddy bears to be donated to the Elks Lodge 1743. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m.
