Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah
'Cats come up short in opener
8/27/2011 3:15:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
SALT LAKE CITY - The Weber State University women's volleyball team got off to a strong start to the 2011 season, but came up just a little short against in-state rival Utah.
Junior outside hitter Bethany Wray had 12 kills and eight digs to lead the Wildcats, who were swept 25-23, 25-18, 25-21 by the Utes in the second match of the Utah Classic at Crimson Court.
Sophomore Briana Wilms added a career-high nine kills for the Wildcats, along with six digs.
Sophomore libero Mikelle Kap, seeing her first action in two seasons after sitting out 2010 while recovering from knee surgery, had 15 digs.
The Wildcats led several times in the first set and rallied late to forge a 23-23 tie, but the Utes were able to make a final push close out the set for a 1-0 lead in the match.
WSU and Utah battled to a 16-all tie in the second set, but the Utes scored three straight points to take the lead en route to a seven-point win and a 2-0 lead. Prior to Utah's late surge, there had been 12 ties and four lead changes in the set.
Coming out of the break, Utah scored the first three points and 11 of the first 14 to stake out an 11-3 advantage. The Wildcats clawed back within four at 22-18 on a block from Dama Cox and Tasi Kelemete. WSU cut it to three, 24-21, but Utah close out the set and the match after a service error.
Weber State (0-1) will take on the Northwestern Wildcats in their second match of the Utah Classic at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Crimson Court, before capping their three-match tournament appearance with Cal State Northridge at 5 p.m. It will be the first-ever meeting with Northwestern for Weber State, while the Wildcats and Matadors were former Big Sky Conference rivals until 2000.
