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Bulldogs Open Season With Setback To Utah Valley
Aug. 28, 2009
OGDEN, Utah - Gonzaga University women's volleyball opened its 2009 season with a tough 3-1 setback to Utah Valley University in its first match of the Best Western Canyon Pines Weber State University Invitational. The Zags (0-1), playing their first game under the tutelage of new head coach Dave Gantt, dropped the four-set match to the Wolverines (1-0) 22-25, 23-25, 26-24, 19-25. "We had flashes of brilliance today," said Gantt after coaching his first match in seven years. "We put ourselves in position to have a chance in every set." Gonzaga was led in the loss by junior middle blocker Catlin Cozad with 11 kills, one off tying her career-high, three digs and five blocks. Senior outside hitter Michelle Boevers also added 11 kills, while senior right side hitter Layne Brosky tallied 10 kills, a team-best .444 hitting clip, and three digs. "A bright spot from start to finish was Catlin," stated Gantt. "Her motor was running every moment of the match." The Wolverines opened the first set storming out to a 17-9 lead following a Bulldog attacking error. However, the Zags rattled off an 11-1 run to take the lead in the set 20-18. Utah Valley responded with a 4-0 spurt of its own to regain the 22-20 advantage. After GU again tied the set at 22-22, UVU scored the final three points to earn the set one victory. In the second set, the Wolverines again jumped out early, taking a quick 8-2 lead. Gonzaga settled down though and was able to tie the set at 15-15 after a service error by UVU's Chelsea Fa'alogo. Utah Valley broke the tie and held at least a one point lead for the rest of the set and earned the victory on a kill by Camie Manwill. It was Gonzaga who quickly took the set three lead, pulling out to a 7-3 edge after an attack error by Manwill. The Bulldogs continued to hold the lead until the Wolverines tied the set late at 23-23 on a kill by Fa'alogo. The set again tied at 24-24 and then it was all Zags. Fa'alogo served up an error into the net followed by GU freshman Terran Poindexter hammering home one of her eight kills of the match to give the Zags the victory.
"Winning the third set was good," explained Gantt. "We were three points from the victory and let Utah Valley back into the set though. The great thing was how our team hung in there and got the win." The Bulldogs couldn't hold on to their momentum as the Wolverines earned the six-point set four victory. Utah Valley hit a smoking .432 from the floor and finished with 19 kills to Gonzaga's 13. For the match, Gonzaga out-blocked Utah Valley 9-7. Along with Cozad's five blocks, sophomore Kaprina Goodwin added two block assists and a solo block. GU's Allyson Powell finished with 11 digs. The Wolverines were led by Manwill who finished with a double-double of 22 kills and 18 digs. Gonzaga continues play at the Weber State Invitational Saturday with a morning match against Utah State University (10 a.m.) and an evening match against Weber State (6:30 p.m.) |
