Wildcats Win on Senior Day, Clinch Big Sky Conference Regular Season Championship

On a day when Weber State's most decorated senior class in history was being honored, and in a match that carried many heavy weight implications, the Weber State Wildcat Volleyball squad made sure to get the job done and picked up a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-14) win over the rival Southern Utah Thunderbirds.

In the first set, The Wildcat seniors came out and absolutely dominated when the spotlight was placed firmly on them. Emily Olson started the match and was the first person at the service line for the Wildcats. In her time serving, she dialed up an ace and the 'Cats got out to a big lead early on. Sam Schiess had five kills on five swings, and Ashlyn Power found ol' reliable, Rylin Adams, on the outside for a bunch of kills that helped guide Weber State to a 25-18 first set.

Early in the second set, the raucous crowd that was at Swenson Gym saw another career milestone from another all-time Wildcat great. With her third kill in the match, Dani Nay joined the elite, exclusive 1,000 kill club at WSU, and she's only a sophomore.

"She's a special talent," head coach Jeremiah Larsen said of his sophomore pin hitter. "She keeps on getting better every season. We're excited that we get her for two more years."

Nay wasn't the only pin hitter who was lighting up the box score in the second set. Emma Mangum, a transfer from SUU, had a revenge game against her old school today, and had nine kills on 14 attempts through the second set. With Power spreading the ball out as WSU fans have been so accustomed to over the last 517 sets, the Wildcat offense was purring and they took the second set 25-19.

With at least a share of the Big Sky Conference regular season title on the line, an opportunity to lock up the number one see in next week's conference tournament, and the chance to clinch the hosting rights to the 2022 Big Sky tournament up for grabs, there was everything to play for in the third set.

These 'Cats didn't disappoint.

Adams used power and finesse, cross-court and line shots to score nine kills in the third set alone, Nay carved out five more kills in the third set, and Weber State just couldn't be stopped. On her only swing of the match which came on championship point with the 'Cats up 24-14, Riley Weinert came flying in from the right side, went cross court and scored the kill to give Weber State at least a share of its second consecutive Big Sky regular season championship.

The victory moves the Wildcats to 18-8 (13-3) on the year, and it seemed to be a perfect way to end the regular season careers of the superstar seniors that Weber State honored prior to the match.

Larsen noted, "Our seniors played the way that they've been playing their entire career. It's a perfect capstone to a wonderful regular season for them."

Another win at Swenson Gym and this superlative-laden season just can't stop. It's been 25 consecutive times that the Wildcats have lined up across the net from opponents in Ogden and come away victorious. They haven't lost at home in over two years, and somewhere in that stretch of time, Swenson Gym has meta morphed into a fortress.

"When people come," Larsen said of the announced 805 people in attendance, "it's an electric atmosphere. It for sure helps us play at a high level. We feel lucky to be able to hopefully continue to have that advantage through the conference tournament."

The Weber State Wildcat trophy case added another member to its family today with the Wildcats clinching a share of the Big Sky regular season title. Larsen and company have their sights set on something higher, though. He mentioned, "Our purpose has never been to win a regular season championship. We understand that the conference tournament championship is the ideal. So hopefully we've gotten good enough to be able to accomplish that task."

The Wildcats are hosting the Big Sky Conference tournament in Swenson Gym from November 18^th-20^th. This is the first time in program history that a postseason tournament will be held in Ogden. While the opponents remain to be decided, the 'Cats are certainly expecting to put on a show in front of an electric crowd as they start their journey to win a second consecutive Big Sky tournament title.

Tickets to the Big Sky tournament in Swenson Gym can be purchased online or by calling the Weber State ticket office at 801-626-8500. The entire tournament will be broadcasted on ESPN+ for those who can't be in attendance.

Wildcats Win on Senior Day, Clinch Big Sky Conference Regular Season Championship

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Team Stats

Rylin Adams

Dani Richins

Emma Mangum

Baylee Bodily

Players Mentioned

Rylin Adams

Emma Mangum

Emily Olson

Ashlyn Power

Dani Richins

Sam Schiess

Riley Weinert

Players Mentioned

Rylin Adams

Emma Mangum

Emily Olson

Ashlyn Power

Dani Richins

Sam Schiess

Riley Weinert

Weber State University Athletics