Weber State University Athletics
Tuesday, December 7
El Paso, TX
7:30 p.m.
Weber State University
22-10,14-3Big Sky
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UTEP
-247,84 CUSA
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Weber St.
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28
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UTEP
25
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Photo by: UTEP Athletics
Miners Down Wildcats in Five
12/7/2021 11:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
In one of the most competitive matches that Weber State Volleyball has seen all season, the Wildcats saw their season end and fell to the UTEP Miners in five sets on Tuesday night in El Paso by a score of 3-2 (21-25, 28-26, 23-25, 36-34, 9-15).
The first set saw the 'Cats get a big early lead which was extended all the way out to 14-6. The Wildcats held a lead all the way up to 21-16, but UTEP went on an unfathomable nine-point run to steal the first set in Memorial Gym by a score of 25-21.
It was a tight second stanza between the Wildcats and the Miners. Weber State held a close lead for the majority of the set, but UTEP kept fighting to take a 21-20 advantage and Jeremiah Larsen called a timeout. UTEP scored the first point out of the break, then Baylee Bodily came through with a clutch kill for Weber State to cut the 'Cats' deficit to just one point. The Wildcats had a big block on the next play to tie it up at 22, but UTEP scored on the next two points to get them a few set points.
Cue Weber State's seniors.
Rylin Adams had a big kill to cut the Miner lead to 24-23 and UTEP called timeout. Larsen subbed Emily Olson into the match for serving purposes, and it paid off. Olson's serving prowess showed as she served back-to-back aces to give the Wildcats their first set point of the match. UTEP tied the set at 25, but Sam Schiess had a big swing to give the 'Cats a set point at, then Adams' fifth ace of the night closed the set out at 28-26.
After trading leads early on in the fifth set, Weber State had a 15-14 lead at the media timeout. Coming out of the timeout, UTEP took three consecutive points to take the lead. The Miners lead went all the way up to 24-22, prior to an attacking error that made it 24-23 in UTEP's favor, but the Miners called a timeout to try to regroup, and apparently it worked. Out of the timeout, UTEP got a kill that closed out the third set and gave the Miners a 2-1 advantage on their home floor.
The Wildcats have played several tight, extended sets this season, but nothing that has taken more twists and turns than Tuesday night's topsy turvy fourth set.
With their season on the line, Weber State had a big early lead in the set after Kate Standifird served back-to-back aces to give the 'Cats an 8-3 lead prior to a UTEP timeout.
The Wildcats' lead grew to 16-8 and it appeared that Weber State would cruise to an easy fourth set win.
Not so fast.
UTEP, once again facing an eight-point hill to climb, did just that. The Miners scored eight straight points and Weber State burned through both of its timeouts. Coming out of their final timeout, the Wildcats seemed to gain some momentum and started to pull away, but once again UTEP fought back all the way to match point. The Miners had a 24-23 lead against the Wildcats whose proverbial back was against the ropes, but Big Sky MVP, Dani Nay, came through with a clutch kill to make it 24-24. The two teams exchanged points various times and UTEP had a total of seven match points all the way up to 34-33, but Weber State scored the final three points of the set to win 36-34 and force a decisive fifth set.
Once again struggling for their season, the fifth set unfortunately wouldn't turn out in favor of the Wildcats. UTEP snagged the initial lead and Weber State wasn't ever able to match. The Wildcats cut things as close at 11-9, but UTEP scored the final four points of the match to win the fifth set and turn out the lights on Weber State's postseason party.
The loss closes Weber State's record out at 22-10, and finalizes WSU's season in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship Quarterfinal.
This Wildcat team provided moment after moment, memory after memory, en route to tying their deepest postseason run in program history.
Back at the beginning of the season, the Wildcats got a big five-set win on the road against Utah State, pushed a nationally ranked BYU team to five sets in Provo, and had an incredible come from behind victory over Utah Valley in Swenson Gym.
In Big Sky Conference play, the team went on a tyrannical ten-match winning streak and won a share of the Big Sky Regular Season Championship for the second consecutive season. The 'Cats extended their home winning streak to 27 consecutive matches, which was the longest in the nation, and even hosted their first ever Big Sky Conference Tournament and national postseason tournament.
Wow, what a run.
It's ok to feel a bit downhearted at the close of yet another amazing season which has been a part of the best extended period of success in Weber State history. But it's also near impossible to look back and not feel grateful for what has been, and excited for what will be with this Wildcat program.
The foundation has been set. Here's to more Wildcat volleyball success in the years to come.
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The first set saw the 'Cats get a big early lead which was extended all the way out to 14-6. The Wildcats held a lead all the way up to 21-16, but UTEP went on an unfathomable nine-point run to steal the first set in Memorial Gym by a score of 25-21.
It was a tight second stanza between the Wildcats and the Miners. Weber State held a close lead for the majority of the set, but UTEP kept fighting to take a 21-20 advantage and Jeremiah Larsen called a timeout. UTEP scored the first point out of the break, then Baylee Bodily came through with a clutch kill for Weber State to cut the 'Cats' deficit to just one point. The Wildcats had a big block on the next play to tie it up at 22, but UTEP scored on the next two points to get them a few set points.
Cue Weber State's seniors.
Rylin Adams had a big kill to cut the Miner lead to 24-23 and UTEP called timeout. Larsen subbed Emily Olson into the match for serving purposes, and it paid off. Olson's serving prowess showed as she served back-to-back aces to give the Wildcats their first set point of the match. UTEP tied the set at 25, but Sam Schiess had a big swing to give the 'Cats a set point at, then Adams' fifth ace of the night closed the set out at 28-26.
After trading leads early on in the fifth set, Weber State had a 15-14 lead at the media timeout. Coming out of the timeout, UTEP took three consecutive points to take the lead. The Miners lead went all the way up to 24-22, prior to an attacking error that made it 24-23 in UTEP's favor, but the Miners called a timeout to try to regroup, and apparently it worked. Out of the timeout, UTEP got a kill that closed out the third set and gave the Miners a 2-1 advantage on their home floor.
The Wildcats have played several tight, extended sets this season, but nothing that has taken more twists and turns than Tuesday night's topsy turvy fourth set.
With their season on the line, Weber State had a big early lead in the set after Kate Standifird served back-to-back aces to give the 'Cats an 8-3 lead prior to a UTEP timeout.
The Wildcats' lead grew to 16-8 and it appeared that Weber State would cruise to an easy fourth set win.
Not so fast.
UTEP, once again facing an eight-point hill to climb, did just that. The Miners scored eight straight points and Weber State burned through both of its timeouts. Coming out of their final timeout, the Wildcats seemed to gain some momentum and started to pull away, but once again UTEP fought back all the way to match point. The Miners had a 24-23 lead against the Wildcats whose proverbial back was against the ropes, but Big Sky MVP, Dani Nay, came through with a clutch kill to make it 24-24. The two teams exchanged points various times and UTEP had a total of seven match points all the way up to 34-33, but Weber State scored the final three points of the set to win 36-34 and force a decisive fifth set.
Once again struggling for their season, the fifth set unfortunately wouldn't turn out in favor of the Wildcats. UTEP snagged the initial lead and Weber State wasn't ever able to match. The Wildcats cut things as close at 11-9, but UTEP scored the final four points of the match to win the fifth set and turn out the lights on Weber State's postseason party.
The loss closes Weber State's record out at 22-10, and finalizes WSU's season in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship Quarterfinal.
This Wildcat team provided moment after moment, memory after memory, en route to tying their deepest postseason run in program history.
Back at the beginning of the season, the Wildcats got a big five-set win on the road against Utah State, pushed a nationally ranked BYU team to five sets in Provo, and had an incredible come from behind victory over Utah Valley in Swenson Gym.
In Big Sky Conference play, the team went on a tyrannical ten-match winning streak and won a share of the Big Sky Regular Season Championship for the second consecutive season. The 'Cats extended their home winning streak to 27 consecutive matches, which was the longest in the nation, and even hosted their first ever Big Sky Conference Tournament and national postseason tournament.
Wow, what a run.
It's ok to feel a bit downhearted at the close of yet another amazing season which has been a part of the best extended period of success in Weber State history. But it's also near impossible to look back and not feel grateful for what has been, and excited for what will be with this Wildcat program.
The foundation has been set. Here's to more Wildcat volleyball success in the years to come.
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Team Stats
Weber
UTEP
Kills
69
62
Errors
37
23
Attempts
199
173
Hitting %
.161
.225
Points
96
85
Assists
57
55
Aces
15
11
Blocks
12
12
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
22
Aces
6
Blocks
3
Kills
19
Aces
3
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Players Mentioned
OH/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
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