Junior setter Mira Ledermueller screams after scoring during a game against Utah Tech University on Oct. 18 at College Park Center. Ledermueller had 10 digs.
UTA volleyball (10-8) ended its four-game losing streak with a 3-1 win against Utah Tech University (14-4) Saturday at College Park Center.
“I think that we were really disciplined and I think that we were really aggressive,” head coach Tania Schatow said. “Those two things put together put us in a really good situation to be successful today.”
Her players said they thought the end of the losing streak came down to the work they put in off the main stage.
Freshman middle blocker Sophia Krichev blocks the ball during a game against Utah Tech University on Oct. 18 at College Park Center. Krichev had two blocks.
“We put a really big emphasis on recognizing our mistakes and learning from them and just being more disciplined on doing everything with an intention,” junior setter Mira Ledermueller said. “This game really showed that. We really executed what we were practicing all week.”
The win over the No. 1 team in the conference was, to the players, the best way to take the long-awaited victory.
“It’s great having that in-conference upset, winning against the No. 1 in our conference. That’s truly amazing,” Ledermueller said. “That couldn’t have ended that four losing streak any better.”
UTA volleyball alumni serve a ball before a game against Utah Tech University on Oct. 18 at College Park Center. UTA earned its second conference win of the season.
To open up the match, UTA won the first set 25-14 before Utah Tech rallied to even it up with a 25-17 win in the second set.
On what went wrong in the second set, Schatow mentioned an improvement in the Trailblazers’ play aided by Maverick reception errors and tentativeness at the net.
UTA began the third set with an early 4-1 lead, but Utah Tech evened the score at five. From then on, neither team held more than a two-point lead until the Trailblazers led 22-19. From there, the lead was exchanged multiple times.
The teams were forced to play past the 25-point mark. With the score tied at 26, junior middle blocker Hana Aiana made a crucial kill before a Utah Tech error ended the chaotic set with a 28-26 UTA win.
Junior outside hitter Evyn Snook hits the ball during a game against Utah Tech University on Oct. 18 at College Park Center. Snook had 13 kills.
“We knew where the ball was going, being strategic with where we placed balls,” Schatow said. “We started hitting line a little bit more, we started getting a few better block touches, which was nice.”
The fourth set was Utah Tech’s turn to take an early 4-1 lead, but UTA kept it close and made the score 9-9 before taking the lead, which it wasn’t able to extend.
The Trailblazers fought back, regaining the lead. UTA tied the game back at 18, marking the last time Utah Tech had a lead as the Mavericks won the set 25-22, snapping their losing streak.
UTA volleyball players sign posters for fans after a game against Utah Tech University on Oct. 18 at College Park Center. UTA won 3-1.
Senior outside hitter Jalie Tritt led both teams with 17 kills, with junior outside hitter Evyn Snook in second with 13. Ledermueller led both teams in assists with 38. Junior libero Samantha Glenn recorded 23 digs, the most of anyone on the court Saturday.
The Mavericks will return to action at 6 p.m. Thursday to take on California Baptist University at College Park Center.
The final loss in the streak was handed by California Baptist, and UTA hopes to even the record against the Lancers.
“I think that fire to win and beat them and show them that they’re not better than us is going to go a long way,” Tritt said.
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