Upcoming Event: Volleyball at Nebraska on September 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
5:00 PM
Volleyball
at Nebraska
Friday, August 29
Salt Lake City, UT
7:00 PM
University of Utah
vs
Dayton
Photo by: Anna Fuder/Utah Athletics
No. 23 Utah Volleyball Opens Season with Utah Classic
8/28/2025 10:00 AM | Volleyball
The Utes get 2025 underway with a Top 25 matchup against No. 24 Dayton
SALT LAKE CITY- No. 23 Utah Volleyball is set to begin the 2025 season this weekend hosting the annual Utah Classic. The Utes will open the season in non-conference against No. 24 Dayton this Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. MT at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The program will return the following day, Saturday, Aug. 30, to take on Lafayette College at 11 a.m. MT. Utah will close out the Utah Classic on Sunday, Aug. 31 against a familiar foe in Washington State on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 12 p.m. MT.
All Utah Classic matches will air on ESPN+ with a combination of Krista Blunk, Linda Byington, Mike Folta, and Victoria Dennis on the calls.
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QUICK HITS
• Head Coach Beth Launiere enters her 36th season at the helm of the program. Utah Volleyball's winningest head coach heads into 2025 with a 674-425 record ahead of coaching in her 1,100th game for the Utes against No. 24 Dayton.
• Utah returns nine players from last season's team that stamped the program's ticket to its 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Three of those returners were 2025 All-Big 12 selections (Kamryn Gibadlo, Emrie Moea'i, and Isabelle Marco).
• The Utes welcome nine newcomers to their 2025 squad that include six freshmen, three transfers, and the addition of nine-year-old "Ultimate Ute" Briar Rose.
• Beginning the season with the Utah Classic marks the fifth time since 2018 that Utah has opened its season on its home court.
• This season, Utah is set to face eight opponents starting the season on the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll not including their exhibition against No. 5 Texas on Aug. 15.
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NON-CONFERENCE NOTES
Utah has one more home match on Thursday, Sept. 4 against No. 9 Texas A&M before heading out on the road to Logan, Utah to face Utah State on Saturday, Sept. 6. The Utes head back home to host Utah Valley University on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Utah then takes off to Lincoln, Nebraska from Sept. 12-13 to face No. 1 Nebraska and Drake. The Utes will stay on the road to wrap up non-conference play from Sept. 18-20 in San Luis Obispo, California where they will compete against California Baptist, Cal Poly, and Saint Mary's.
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UP NEXT
No. 23 Utah Volleyball will stay at the Huntsman Center, hosting a massive match against No. 9 Texas A&M on Thursday, Sept. 4. First serve is set for 6 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
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FOR THE FANS
2025 Utah Volleyball season posters and magnets will be available for fans at each of matches throughout the Utah Classic.
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UTAH CLASSIC SCHEDULE
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Friday, Aug. 29Â
11am:Â Â Â No. 24 Dayton vs. Lafayette
4:30pm:Â WSU vs. Lafayette
7pm:Â Â Â Â No. 23 Utah vs. No. 24 Dayton
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Saturday, Aug. 30Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
11am:Â No. 23 Utah vs. Lafayette
1pm:Â Â Â No. 24 Dayton vs. WSU
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Sunday, Aug. 31
12pm:Â Â No. 23 Utah vs. WSU
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SCOUTING DAYTON
Dayton is coming off a 31-3 campaign last season, which saw an 18-0 record in A-10 conference play. The Flyers unanimously received the top spot in the 2025 A-10 preseason poll, along with achieving their fifth preseason AVCA ranking since 2010 coming in at No. 24. In last years' NCAA Tournament, Dayton upset No. 16 Baylor, advancing the Flyers to the NCAA Regionals where they lost to No. 3 Nebraska.
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 SCOUTING LAFAYETTE
Lafayette compiled a 7-18 record a year ago. They enter the 2025 campaign with a new head coach at the helm, Jeff "CJ" Werneke. Werneke previously spent three seasons at Binghamton University.
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SCOUTING WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State posted a 16-12 record in 2024, going 11-7 in their first year as a part of the WCC. Heading into 2025, WSU Middle Blocker Lucie Blažková earned a spot on the All-WCC preseason team.
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REIGNING RETURNERS
WELCOME TO UTAH
2025 Utah Volleyball Schedule, Roster, & Ticketing Information
View full schedule here. | Check out Utah Volleyball's full 2025 roster here.
Season tickets are available here. | Single game tickets are available here.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).
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DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
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All Utah Classic matches will air on ESPN+ with a combination of Krista Blunk, Linda Byington, Mike Folta, and Victoria Dennis on the calls.
Â
QUICK HITS
• Head Coach Beth Launiere enters her 36th season at the helm of the program. Utah Volleyball's winningest head coach heads into 2025 with a 674-425 record ahead of coaching in her 1,100th game for the Utes against No. 24 Dayton.
• Utah returns nine players from last season's team that stamped the program's ticket to its 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Three of those returners were 2025 All-Big 12 selections (Kamryn Gibadlo, Emrie Moea'i, and Isabelle Marco).
• The Utes welcome nine newcomers to their 2025 squad that include six freshmen, three transfers, and the addition of nine-year-old "Ultimate Ute" Briar Rose.
• Beginning the season with the Utah Classic marks the fifth time since 2018 that Utah has opened its season on its home court.
• This season, Utah is set to face eight opponents starting the season on the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll not including their exhibition against No. 5 Texas on Aug. 15.
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NON-CONFERENCE NOTES
Utah has one more home match on Thursday, Sept. 4 against No. 9 Texas A&M before heading out on the road to Logan, Utah to face Utah State on Saturday, Sept. 6. The Utes head back home to host Utah Valley University on Tuesday, Sept. 9. Utah then takes off to Lincoln, Nebraska from Sept. 12-13 to face No. 1 Nebraska and Drake. The Utes will stay on the road to wrap up non-conference play from Sept. 18-20 in San Luis Obispo, California where they will compete against California Baptist, Cal Poly, and Saint Mary's.
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UP NEXT
No. 23 Utah Volleyball will stay at the Huntsman Center, hosting a massive match against No. 9 Texas A&M on Thursday, Sept. 4. First serve is set for 6 p.m. MT and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
Â
FOR THE FANS
2025 Utah Volleyball season posters and magnets will be available for fans at each of matches throughout the Utah Classic.
Â
UTAH CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Â
Friday, Aug. 29Â
11am:Â Â Â No. 24 Dayton vs. Lafayette
4:30pm:Â WSU vs. Lafayette
7pm:Â Â Â Â No. 23 Utah vs. No. 24 Dayton
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Saturday, Aug. 30Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
11am:Â No. 23 Utah vs. Lafayette
1pm:Â Â Â No. 24 Dayton vs. WSU
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Sunday, Aug. 31
12pm:Â Â No. 23 Utah vs. WSU
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SCOUTING DAYTON
Dayton is coming off a 31-3 campaign last season, which saw an 18-0 record in A-10 conference play. The Flyers unanimously received the top spot in the 2025 A-10 preseason poll, along with achieving their fifth preseason AVCA ranking since 2010 coming in at No. 24. In last years' NCAA Tournament, Dayton upset No. 16 Baylor, advancing the Flyers to the NCAA Regionals where they lost to No. 3 Nebraska.
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 SCOUTING LAFAYETTE
Lafayette compiled a 7-18 record a year ago. They enter the 2025 campaign with a new head coach at the helm, Jeff "CJ" Werneke. Werneke previously spent three seasons at Binghamton University.
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SCOUTING WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State posted a 16-12 record in 2024, going 11-7 in their first year as a part of the WCC. Heading into 2025, WSU Middle Blocker Lucie Blažková earned a spot on the All-WCC preseason team.
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REIGNING RETURNERS
- Kamryn Gibadlo returns to the Utes as an AVCA 2025 Division I Player of the Year to watch after becoming Utah's 24th AVCA All-American (honorable mention) in her sophomore year. Gibadlo was also an AVCA All-Region honoree and was named an All-Big 12 First Team selection after leading the Utes in kills/set (3.43), kills (370), and aces (38). Over the summer, Gibadlo sharpened her skills competing with the U21 National Team, winning gold in the PanAm Cup. In her first season at Utah (2023), Gibadlo earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors, finishing second on the team in kills (284) and kills per set (2.61).
- Utah returns a strong defensive presence with Emrie Moea'i (formerly Satuala) who earned AVCA All-Region honors and a spot on the All-Big 12 Second Team for her solid junior year. In 2024, Moea'i posted double-digit kills in nine matches, setting her season-high against BYU (14) while tying her career-high in total blocks (11) against Utah State. Moea'i led the Utes in blocks (123) and averaged 1.10 blocks per set.
- Isabelle Marco made a splash in her first season at Utah in 2024, earning a spot on the All-Big 12 Rookie Team after leading the Utes in assists per set (5.74) and total assists (625). She also set career-highs for digs (17) and assists in a game (35).
- Levani Key-Powell is expected to make a bigger impact for the Utes in 2025 after getting her feet wet in 2024 as a freshman. Last season the outside hitter set career-highs for attacks (22), kills (10), digs (9), hitting percentage (.778), and blocks (3)
WELCOME TO UTAH
- Along with some seasoned vets, the Utes are welcoming a total of nine newcomers (six freshmen, three transfers, and one "Ultimate Ute") to their 2025 squad.
- Freshman Class of 2025: MB Lana Mijacic, MB DyBorrah Johnson, L McKenna Payne, MB Katelynn Field, OH Devyn Wiest, and OH/OPP Allie Grossenbach.
- Transfer Class of 2025: S Leah Wilton-LaBoy via Oklahoma and Utah State, OH Langley Griffin via Utah Beach Volleyball, and PA Neea-Maria Joki.
- Wiest spent the summer competing with USA Volleyball's U19 Girls' National Team that took silver in the World Championship, while Joki, a reigning ACC All-Freshman Team selection at Clemson went home to Finland to compete with the Finish Senior National Team for the European Championship.
- Utah Volleyball made a last-minute move to sign nine-year-old Briar Rose to their "Ultimate Ute" position through Team IMPACT ahead of the 2025 season. Briar Rose will be with the Utes for two seasons and will be responsible for teaching Swoop new cheers and keeping team morale high through the competitive year.
2025 Utah Volleyball Schedule, Roster, & Ticketing Information
View full schedule here. | Check out Utah Volleyball's full 2025 roster here.
Season tickets are available here. | Single game tickets are available here.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).
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DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
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Players Mentioned
MB
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OH
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OH
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
MB
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L/DS
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UU
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OH
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S
/ VolleyballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - Keith Kelley, voice of the Wyoming Cowboys
Tuesday, September 09
Utah Volleyball's Kamryn Gibadlo - ESPN+ Feature
Tuesday, September 09
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Utah Volleyball's Head Coach Beth Launiere begins her 36th season at the helm! - ESPN+ Feature
Saturday, August 30