Weber State University Athletics
Saturday, August 27
Ogden
5:30 PM
Weber State University
3-0,0-0Big Sky
3
vs
1
San Jose State
2-1,0-0Mountain West
1
2
3
4
F
San Jose St.
25
18
25
22
1
Weber St.
19
25
27
25
3
Photo by: Robert Casey
WSU Wins Thriller, Claims Wildcat Invitational Championship
8/27/2022 9:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
OGDEN, Utah – In front of a raucous crowd in Swenson Gym, the Weber State volleyball team came from behind to beat the San Jose State Spartans 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 27-25, 25-22), and win the Wildcat Invitational Championship.
After jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, the Spartans gave up six-consecutive points to Weber State to hand the 'Cats an 8-6 lead. SJSU responded with a three-point run of its own and wouldn't relinquish the lead from there. The Spartans closed the set strongly and took the first by a score of 25-19.
Having gathered his troops in the huddle prior to the second set, Jeremiah Larsen's squad came out and played how Wildcat fans have become accustomed to seeing their team. The set was tied as late as 14-14, but then Weber State took control. With the Wildcats' strong serving, SJSU wasn't able to get in system and the 'Cats took advantage. WSU scored six of the set's last seven points and tied the match up with a 25-18 set victory.
The third set of the match was one of the most memorable in Swenson Gym in recent history.
The two sides exchanged point for point up until just after the media timeout when San Jose State rode a five-point run to take an 18-13 lead in the crucial set. The Wildcats countered with a three-point run that was punctuated by a Makayla Sorensen service ace. The two sides went back and forth with the Spartans grabbing leads at 23-19, and 24-21, but a deafening Club Swenson crowd stepped in and played its part, urging the 'Cats to comeback.
Weber State rattled off four consecutive points, including two kills from the defending Big Sky Conference MVP Dani Richins, and seized a 25-24 advantage. San Jose State punched back to tie it at 25, but another kill from Richins followed by a clutch hit from freshman Ashley Gneiting gave the Wildcats the set, and it felt like the roof was going to blow off of Swenson Gym.
Riding the momentum from an unbelievable comeback in the third set, Weber State pounced to a 10-6 lead in the fourth, five of those points coming from Richins' right arm. The Spartans were able to hang tough and cut the lead to a single point at 20-19 and 21-20, but couldn't ever get closer than that. Richins and Gneiting combined for the final six kills of the night for Weber State, and the Wildcats closed things out with a 25-22 fourth set dub.
Weber State opens the season going 3-0, defending its home court, and winning the 2022 Wildcat Invitational.
NOTABLES
-The Wildcats win their third consecutive season-opening tournament dating back to 2019.
-Richins tied her career high in kills with 24 kills and hit .314 for the match. She also had 24 kills on October 24, 2019 against the Idaho Vandals.
-With an ace in the first set, Richins is now alone in sixth place in Wildcat history for career aces with 137.
-Kate Standifird was the lone double-double of the night for either team with 43 assists and 13 digs.
-Weber State's fantastic freshman lived up to the billing tonight. Saane Katoa hit .333 with 10 kills and four block assists, Gneiting had 7 kills on 12 swings – including the kill to win the third set and the kill to win the match -, and Brielle Rueckert got the first four kills of her career on nine attempts.
-Standifird was named tournament MVP, Richins was named to the all-tournament team.
QUOTABLES
"Honestly it was so fun. I really love those last three sets. San Jose State really came out and we responded. The first set was obviously not our cleanest or our best, but we turned it around. I think it shows our strengths and our depth. I think that's something that makes us special. […] The crowd was awesome tonight. It is such a fun environment when everyone is loud and cheering us on, especially in games like tonight when it's back and forth. We love it." – Dani Richins
"San Jose State played a really good game. They should be recognized for that. Our kids were resilient through a lot of adversity and could have quit at any moment but didn't. Dani was awful in the first set. She resembled the player that she's been for the last three years and I couldn't be more proud of how she responded to the challenges that were in front of her. […] When we were making that comeback in set three, the crowd was electrifying. They fueled us when we needed it." – Jeremiah Larson
UP NEXT
The Wildcats pack their bags and ship out for a tournament in Las Vegas hosted by UNLV. Weber State will play UNLV on September 1, St. John's on September 2, and Miami on September 3. There is no word yet on how the tournament will be broadcasted.
TICKETS
Season and single match tickets are on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the Weber State ticket office at 801-626-8500.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow Weber State volleyball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to stay up to date with everything happening with the Wildcats.
After jumping out to a 6-2 lead in the first set, the Spartans gave up six-consecutive points to Weber State to hand the 'Cats an 8-6 lead. SJSU responded with a three-point run of its own and wouldn't relinquish the lead from there. The Spartans closed the set strongly and took the first by a score of 25-19.
Having gathered his troops in the huddle prior to the second set, Jeremiah Larsen's squad came out and played how Wildcat fans have become accustomed to seeing their team. The set was tied as late as 14-14, but then Weber State took control. With the Wildcats' strong serving, SJSU wasn't able to get in system and the 'Cats took advantage. WSU scored six of the set's last seven points and tied the match up with a 25-18 set victory.
The third set of the match was one of the most memorable in Swenson Gym in recent history.
The two sides exchanged point for point up until just after the media timeout when San Jose State rode a five-point run to take an 18-13 lead in the crucial set. The Wildcats countered with a three-point run that was punctuated by a Makayla Sorensen service ace. The two sides went back and forth with the Spartans grabbing leads at 23-19, and 24-21, but a deafening Club Swenson crowd stepped in and played its part, urging the 'Cats to comeback.
Weber State rattled off four consecutive points, including two kills from the defending Big Sky Conference MVP Dani Richins, and seized a 25-24 advantage. San Jose State punched back to tie it at 25, but another kill from Richins followed by a clutch hit from freshman Ashley Gneiting gave the Wildcats the set, and it felt like the roof was going to blow off of Swenson Gym.
Riding the momentum from an unbelievable comeback in the third set, Weber State pounced to a 10-6 lead in the fourth, five of those points coming from Richins' right arm. The Spartans were able to hang tough and cut the lead to a single point at 20-19 and 21-20, but couldn't ever get closer than that. Richins and Gneiting combined for the final six kills of the night for Weber State, and the Wildcats closed things out with a 25-22 fourth set dub.
Weber State opens the season going 3-0, defending its home court, and winning the 2022 Wildcat Invitational.
NOTABLES
-The Wildcats win their third consecutive season-opening tournament dating back to 2019.
-Richins tied her career high in kills with 24 kills and hit .314 for the match. She also had 24 kills on October 24, 2019 against the Idaho Vandals.
-With an ace in the first set, Richins is now alone in sixth place in Wildcat history for career aces with 137.
-Kate Standifird was the lone double-double of the night for either team with 43 assists and 13 digs.
-Weber State's fantastic freshman lived up to the billing tonight. Saane Katoa hit .333 with 10 kills and four block assists, Gneiting had 7 kills on 12 swings – including the kill to win the third set and the kill to win the match -, and Brielle Rueckert got the first four kills of her career on nine attempts.
-Standifird was named tournament MVP, Richins was named to the all-tournament team.
QUOTABLES
"Honestly it was so fun. I really love those last three sets. San Jose State really came out and we responded. The first set was obviously not our cleanest or our best, but we turned it around. I think it shows our strengths and our depth. I think that's something that makes us special. […] The crowd was awesome tonight. It is such a fun environment when everyone is loud and cheering us on, especially in games like tonight when it's back and forth. We love it." – Dani Richins
"San Jose State played a really good game. They should be recognized for that. Our kids were resilient through a lot of adversity and could have quit at any moment but didn't. Dani was awful in the first set. She resembled the player that she's been for the last three years and I couldn't be more proud of how she responded to the challenges that were in front of her. […] When we were making that comeback in set three, the crowd was electrifying. They fueled us when we needed it." – Jeremiah Larson
UP NEXT
The Wildcats pack their bags and ship out for a tournament in Las Vegas hosted by UNLV. Weber State will play UNLV on September 1, St. John's on September 2, and Miami on September 3. There is no word yet on how the tournament will be broadcasted.
TICKETS
Season and single match tickets are on sale and can be purchased online or by calling the Weber State ticket office at 801-626-8500.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Make sure to follow Weber State volleyball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter to stay up to date with everything happening with the Wildcats.
Team Stats
SJSU
Weber
Kills
54
52
Errors
23
24
Attempts
138
134
Hitting %
.225
.209
Points
69
65
Assists
52
49
Aces
3
6
Blocks
12
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
24
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
L/OH
/ Women's VolleyballWeber State Volleyball In-Depth | Episode 16: Stacia Barker
Tuesday, September 09
Wildcat Invitational Highlights
Sunday, August 31
President Mortensen with volleyball - August 2025
Tuesday, August 26
Weber State Volleyball In-Depth | Episode 15: Brielle Rueckert
Wednesday, August 13