OREM, Utah — Playing the opening match of head coach Tanio Trifonov's tenure, the Chicago State women's volleyball team (0-1, 0-1 WAC) fell, 3-0, to Utah Valley (5-3, 5-2 WAC) Monday night.
In set one, Utah Valley won seven of the first eight points before the Cougars engineered a dominant run, taking a 10-9 lead on the back of quality service from both
Maria Lopez and
Paola Fragalle. During the run,
Nailah Jones and
Berenice Almeyda tallied kills.
The Cougars then continued to roll, taking a 13-11 lead and forcing a Utah Valley timeout after a pair of
Yanlis Feliz kills. After the timeout, the Cougars opened up a 16-13 lead before a 4-0 UVU run forced Trifonov to call timeout.
The two squads then battled to bring the first set to a nail-biting finish. After
Grace Zambrano racked up four assists to set up a chance for Chicago State down 24-23, a Zambrano service error clinched set one for the Wolverines.
In the second set, the teams were deadlocked, 7-7, before the Wolverines won five straight points on the strength of three aces. The Cougars pulled to within four at 17-13, but Utah Valley cruised for a 25-18 set win.
Kills from Feliz and Almeyda powered Chicago State to a 9-6 advantage to start set three. After Utah Valley proceeded to tie the set at 10, the two squads traded blows, and the score remained within two points for a stretch. Finally, the Wolverines broke through, with effective serving from Seren Jardine and Abbie Miller lifting the home team ahead, 21-15, to cause a timeout.
Down the stretch, Abbie Vincent earned Utah Valley's 11th service ace of the evening to set up match point, during which a double block secured the Utah Valley sweep.
The Wolverines' 11 service aces (compared to two for Chicago State) effectively sealed the match's fate. The Wolverines logged 39 kills to Chicago State's 34, but the Cougars out-attacked UVU by three.
Freshman libero
Andrea Calderon notched 10 digs, while fellow freshman Zambrano stepped in at setter and logged 26 assists. Normally a defensive specialist, Zambrano was thrust into the setting role with the Cougars shorthanded.
"I thought she did better than expected," Trifonov said. "She set the middles really, really well."
Feliz also transitioned to a new position, moving from opposite hitter to outside hitter. After transferring with Trifonov from Seward County Community College, she led the Cougars with 12 kills.
"Her serve receive was better," Trifonov said. "She just needs to get more comfortable with the position she's at."
The Cougars and Wolverines will face off again tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. CT in Orem. The match will be live streamed on the
WAC Digital Network.
