The UVU volleyball team celebrates a point during a match at Dixie State on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. (UVU Courtesy Photo)
DENVER – The Utah Valley University volleyball team was selected to finish second in the WAC by fellow WAC coaches. Kazna Tanuvasa was named to her third preseason All-WAC team and was joined by first-time selection senior Tori Dorius.
UVU has won the last two WAC Tournament titles and returns 13 players from last year’s NCAA Tournament team. The Wolverines finished the regular season in seventh place. They went on to upset No. 2 seed New Mexico State in the first round of the WAC Tournament before beating Stephen F. Austin and Grand Canyon for the WAC Tournament title. The Wolverines fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Utah in Provo, Utah.
Tanuvasa earned her third preseason All-WAC selection after leading UVU and finishing fifth in the WAC with 391 kills and 444 points. Tanuvasa last year had 25 matches with at least ten kills and earned multiple post-season accolades, including All-WAC first team, AVCA Pacific Region Honorable Mention, WAC Tournament MVP, and Academic All-WAC honors. She currently sits in the second-place all-time in UVU history with 1,595 kills and will likely break the school record early in the 2022 season.
Dorius was sidelined for a portion of last year with an injury but made a direct impact late in the season to help UVU make the tournament run. Dorius tallied 94 kills on the season and averaged 2.77 kills/set. The season-high 14 kills in the WAC Tournament first round aided the Wolverines in getting past NM State en route to the WAC Tournament Title.
New Mexico State was picked to win the conference with 135 points and six first-place votes. Followed by UVU (129) and five first-place votes, Grand Canyon (127), Sam Houston (99), Stephen F. Austin (95), California Baptist (90), UTRGV (86), UT Arlington (54), Tarleton (50), Utah Tech (50), Abilene Christian (37), Southern Utah (32), and Seattle U (17).
The 2022 season for Utah Valley starts on Friday, Aug 26, at the Utah Classic with matches against No. 22 Kansas and LMU. UVU will meet host Utah on Saturday, Aug 27. The home opener is slated for Monday, Aug. 29, against Cal Poly, first serve at 6:00 pm inside Lockhart Arena.
2022 WAC Volleyball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points
1. NM State (6) 135
2. Utah Valley (5) 129
3. Grand Canyon (1) 127
4. Sam Houston (1) 99
5. Stephen F Austin 95
6. California Baptist 90
7.UTRGV 86
8.UT Arlington 54
9. Tarleton 50
UtahTech 50
11. Abilene Christian 37
12. Southern Utah 32
13.Seattle U17
2022 WAC Preseason Player of the Year: Katie Birtcil, NM State
2022 WAC Preseason Libero of the Year: Hannah Baker, Sam Houston
2022 WAC Preseason Setter of the Year: Claire Mitchell, Grand Canyon
2022 Preseason All-WAC Team
Hannah Baker, So., L, Sam Houston
Katie Birtcil, Jr., OH, NM State
Melanie Brecka, Grad, RS, Grand Canyon
Sarah Cruz, Sr., OH, UTRGV
Tori Dorius, Sr., OH, Utah Valley
Christine Graf, Sr., OH, California Baptist
Annabelle Kubinski, Grad, MB, Grand Canyon
Klaire Mitchell, Sr., S, Grand Canyon
Lia Mosher, Grad, MB, NM State
Kazna Tanuvasa, Grad, OH, Utah Valley
McKenzie Wise, Sun., OH, Grand Canyon
UVU women’s soccer ties Boise State
BOISE — Utah Valley scored first but couldn’t make that lead stand up in a 1-1 tie with Boise State on Thursday.
The Wolverines (0-0-1) found the back of the net in the 19th minute on a goal from Sydney Bushman, with Julianna Carter and Jenna Shepherd credited with assists.
That 1-0 lead held up until the 71st minute, when the Broncos tied the game on a goal from Morgan Stone.
Due to an NCAA rule change that eliminates overtime in regular season games, the contest ends in a tie.
Utah Valley will host Colorado College on Monday at 7 pm MT on Clyde Field.
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