MISSOULA, Mont. – The Gonzaga volleyball team was swept for the first time this season as No. 22 Utah won 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 27-25) Friday afternoon at Dahlberg Arena.
Gonzaga sophomore
Sarah Penner led the way with nine kills, hitting .318 to go along with seven digs and one block while junior
Jenna Kuehn finished with a team-high 19 assists.
"Our offense was sub-par this evening," said Gonzaga volleyball head coach
Diane Nelson. "We had our chances, and we just didn't convert in transition."
Gonzaga (0-4) started the match hot, hitting .303 for 13 kills in the first set. Utah (4-1) hit .455 for 19 kills in the opening set, but the Bulldogs were able to keep stride with the Utes. Late in the set, the score was tied 20-all but two Gonzaga hitting errors coupled with a Utah kill gave the Utes a three-point cushion, 23-20. The Bulldogs were unable to close the gap, and Utah took the first set 25-21.
In the second set, Utah took an early lead (6-2), and Gonzaga was never able to close the gap. The Utes hit .400 in the second for 16 kills and dug 17 of GU's attempts to cruise to the 25-18 set win.
Gonzaga battle back in the third, forcing seven hitting errors on Utah for its lowest hitting percentage of the match at .237. The Bulldogs were strong defensively in the finals set, collecting 15 of their total 32 digs in the last frame to go along with 3.0 blocks. After falling behind 12-5 to open the set, the Zags battled back, rattling off four kills to tie the set 14-all. A Utah service error gave Gonzaga its first lead of the set (17-16), and back-to-back Bulldog kills followed by consecutive Utah errors put GU up 21-17.
Late in the set, the Bulldogs had multiple set-point opportunities, but a few service and attacking errors gave Utah an opening. The Utes capitalized to win the third set, 27-25.
The Utes were led by Lauga Gauta with a match-high 16 kills to go along with 15 digs while Bailey Choy added 33 assists.
Gonzaga faces Montana in its final match of the Montana Invitational Sept. 1 at 12:30 p.m. PT.
