Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Grand Canyon
Volleyball opens 2-0 for first time in 15 seasons
8/30/2013 11:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
OGDEN, Utah – The Wildcats showed off a little of everything on the opening day of the season.
Led by a pair so strong attacking matches from junior outside hitter Audrey Biggs, the Weber State University women's volleyball team swept both matches during Friday's action at the Wildcat Weekend.
Biggs had 15 kills and a pair of blocks to open the day as Weber State won a thrilling five-set match against NCAA Division I newcomer Grand Canyon, and then added 12 kills and a .500 attack percentage to help lead the Wildcats to a three-set sweep of Seattle.
With the win over the Redhawks, Weber State moves to 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 1998, when it started 3-0.
Against the Antelopes, when it looked like the Wildcats were about to hit a wall, they dug just a little bit deeper.
Showing great poise in the face of adversity, the Weber State University women's volleyball team rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Grand Canyon 23-25, 25-19, 16-25, 25-23, 15-9 in a five-set thriller during the Wildcat Weekend tournament at Swenson Gym on Friday afternoon.
Freshman middle blocker Megan Bean had 13 total blocks in a smashing debut in Purple and White, with four of those being solo blocks. As a team, Weber State recorded 21 blocks.
Biggs led the Wildcats with 14 kills, while sophomore Rebecca Fuchs added seven kills and nine digs.
Junior libero McKay Tarbox had a career high 26 digs, and sophomore outside hitter/setter Samantha Staker had 10 digs.
Sophomore setter Whitney Hunt had a career high 35 assists and eight digs, along with four block assists.
Weber State looked to be in control of the opening up a 19-13 lead, but the Antelopes rallied to score nine of the next 11 points and take a 22-21 lead and eventually closed it out to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Wildcats got off to another strong start in the second set and this time didn't let Grand Canyon off the hook as they captured the six-point set to level the match at 1-1.
The 'Lopes took a 4-0 lead in the third set and never trailed, cruising to a 25-16 set win and a 2-1 advantage.
GCU went up 16-13 in the fourth set and appeared to be in position to break open the set and claim the match.
The Wildcats, however, had other ideas and dug in their heels to rally and tie the set at 18-18.
Weber State edged ahead 20-19, and the two teams traded points back and forth until Grand Canyon took a 23-22 lead.
A kill by freshman Ciera Borho leveled the set at 23-23 and a block by Bean and Fuchs put Weber State ahead 24-23, with an attack error by GCU giving the Wildcats the set and a 2-2 match.
After trailing 2-0 in the decisive fifth set, Weber State scored nine of the next 10 points to take a 9-3 advantage and the Wildcats and Lopes traded points to the finish line.
In the second match of the day, Weber State never allowed the Redhawks to get off the ground.
Hitting a sizzling .317, the Wildcats captured the match 25-21, 25-20, 25-21 in just 82 minutes.
Biggs again let the way with 12 kills and hit .500 – tying her career-high hitting percentage.
Fuchs added nine kills and Staker had eight kills and three blocks.
Tarbox had 13 digs and a career-high five assists, while Hunt had 34 assists – just one off her previous career high set against Grand Canyon.
As a team, Weber State had 43 kills to just 29 for Seattle, which committed seven blocking errors.
The opening set featured 11 ties and six lead changes, with the Wildcats gradually pulling away from a 12-12 tie to take a 24-18 lead before closing it out on a kill by Biggs.
The second set saw nine ties, the last coming at 19-19, before Biggs and Staker each had kills on a 4-0 scoring surge that made it 23-19.
After trading attack errors, Weber State took a 2-0 lead in the match on a kill by Fuchs.
The third set was nearly a carbon copy of the first two, with the Wildcats sliding ahead early and keeping the advantage all the way to the finish line.
Freshman Katie Harvey had the match-winning kill.
Action at Wildcat Weekend will continue on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. when Texas Tech and Grand Canyon squad off. Weber State will face UC Riverside at 11 a.m. and then wrap up the tournament at 4 p.m. against the Red Raiders.
Seattle 3, Texas Tech 0
The Redhawks opened up Wildcat Weekend with a three-set sweep of the Red Raiders.
Martina Samadan had 12 kills and hit .455 to lead Seattle (1-0), while Allison Farley added nine kills and four blocks. Sarah Jaeckel had 10 digs and Kerry Lane had 32 assists.
Seattle hit .242 to Texas Tech's .143.
Breeann David led Texas Tech (0-1) with 11 kills.
Texas Tech 3, UC Riverside 0
The Red Raiders bounced back from their earlier loss to knock off the Highlanders (0-1) in straight sets.
Breeann David had 12 kills, 10 digs and six blocks to lead the Red Raiders for the second straight match, while Mikia Mills added 10 kills.
Rachel Brummitt had 18 digs and Carlie Foust added 11 for Texas Tech (1-1), which won in just 74 minutes.
Tyler Dorsey led UC Riverside with seven kills.
