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5:00 PM
Volleyball
at Nebraska
Saturday, September 6
Las Cruces, N.M.
4:30 PM
University of Utah
3
vs
0
Houston
Utah Volleyball Earns Second Consecutive Sweep, defeats Houston, 3-0
9/6/2008 12:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2008
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Four different Utes pounded down exactly 10 kills to lead Utah volleyball to its second consecutive sweep, and its third of the season, in a 3-0 win (25-17, 25-21, 25-16) against Houston Saturday at the Pan American Center.
Utah (4-1) is off to its best start since 2002 when the Utes started 5-0 and now stand 2-4 all-time against Houston.
"I was really proud of the balanced attack we had tonight," head coach Beth Launiere said. "Any time we can spread around the offense like that, we know we can play well and be successful."
The Utes outhit the Cougars, .318 to .124, and were led by starting setter Stephanie Shardlow set up 36 assists for the Utes and also had seven digs and two kills.
Senior outside hitter Kathryn Haynie registered her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and a season-high 10 digs in addition to three blocks.
Sophomore middle blocker Karolina Bartkowiak got in the act and registered a pair of season highs with a match-best .769 hitting percentage with 10 kills on 13 attempts and zero attack errors.
Junior outside hitter Cinthia Silva tallied 10 kills to go along with five digs and two blocks in what arguably her best performance of the season. Senior middle blocker Lori Baird's 10 blocks came along with six digs and five blocks to maintain her consistent performance this season.
The Utes managed to gain a 13-12 edge in the first set before scoring six of the next eight points in the set to assume a commanding 19-14 lead. Utah's lead would never get below four points as it cruised to a 25-17 first-set win.
Utah found itself down by as many as seven points at 19-12 in the second set before the Utes turned the set around with a 13-2 run to claim a 25-21 win. Baird provided two kills and two blocks during this critical stretch that proved to swing momentum in the match.
After the Utes gained a 7-4 lead in the final set, they never saw their lead smaller than three points the rest of the way. Baird and Silva teamed up with four kills apiece, while the Utah attack hit .412 as a whole.
Utah once again held a commanding edge in blocking, outblocking Houston 12-5. Seven different Utes turned in blocks and Bartkowiak had a match-high six blocks. The Cougars did not hit above .160 in a single set.
"[Our solid play on the block] from this morning [against Florida Gulf Coast] carried over to this match," Launiere said. "We are good blocking team and it's just starting to show more consistently now."
Houston (3-3) was led by 10 kills by Justine Farmer and setter Kelsey King had 29 assists. Amanda Carson led the Cougars in the back row with 11 digs.
The Utes take on the host school of the New Mexico State Tournament tomorrow at 7 p.m., in the Pan American Center.
Players Mentioned
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