SEATTLE - A resounding 3-0 (26-24, 25-22, 25-20) Seattle U volleyball sweep over Utah Tech at the Redhawk Center on Thursday night catapulted the Redhawks into one of the WAC Tournament's remaining spots, locking up their first berth since 2019.
Senior Arianna Bilby posted her ninth double-double this year tallying 13 kills to go along with 12 digs. She also grabbed one of the two aces seen on the evening and three blocks, while hitting .214 on 42 attacks with four errors.
Junior Tatum Chase, junior Merima Smajlovic and redshirt sophomore Yasemin Elmas bolstered the effort, nabbing eight kills a piece. Elmas hit a .316 on 19 attempts with two errors, while pacing the team with five blocks. Chase was nearly identical, hitting .313 on 16 attempts with three errors.
In addition to Bilby, two more Redhawks corralled in double-digit digs on the evening. Senior Katlyn Sipes paced the team with 19 digs, while adding six assists. Smajlovic followed suit with 16 digs.
The freshmen setter tandem of Grace Jones and Anae Asuncion continued to weave the Seattle U offense as the duo combined for 32 assists. Jones led the team with 20 assists, while Asuncion narrowly missed a double-double after registering nine digs.
Alongside Elmas, sophomore Taniyah Pruitt cataloged five blocks, including two solo blocks, to pace the Redhawk defense. She also recorded two kills, including the match winner. Junior Marley Hardgrave followed just behind the pair, recording four blocks and three kills while hitting .300 on ten attempts with no errors.
Together, the Redhawks recorded 42 kills, 12 blocks, 41 assists and 63 digs en route to the shutout. They hit a collective .212 on 132 and 14 errors. Utah Tech grabbed 37 kills, hitting .109 on 129 attempts and 23 errors.
The match opened in a back-and-forth before the Trailblazers looked to grab some footing. Down 11-8, the Redhawks rattled off a 7-1 run to turn the tables and claim the set lead 15-12. While Utah Tech disrupted the 3-0 run led by Sipes at the service line, the Redhawks got up to a 19-13 lead behind three SU kills and a Utah Tech error. The Trailblazers took a page from Seattle U's book, surging ahead to a 21-19 lead before back to back kills from Elmas tied it 21-all. After trading scores to remain even at 23, the Redhawks scored three of the last four points to take the first set 26-24.
Carrying the momentum from the first set, the Redhawks lept out 3-0 at the start of the second set, but Utah Tech muscled back the lead with a run of its own. Seattle U trailed by as many as four before reclaiming the lead off of two kills from Bilby and an ace from Smajlovic. The Redhawks outscored the Trailblazers 3-1 to take set two, with Chase slamming home the final point with a kill.
In an effort to avoid the sweep, the Trailblazers commanded the early third set lead, going up 6-1. After regrouping the Redhawks chipped back to tie it 9-all before going up 16-14. Taking advantage of Utah Tech miscues, the Redhawks led by as many as six after Elmas put Seattle U up 22-16. Chase hit home to grant match point after a kill got the Redhawks up 24-19, but with their backs against the wall the Trailblazers scored twice before Pruitt locked up the victory, rocketing a kill through the Utah Tech defenses.
The Redhawks host one final home match on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Tarleton State to the Redhawk Center on November 16 at 1 p.m. Seattle U will celebrate its four seniors on Senior Day prior to the start of the match.
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Senior Arianna Bilby posted her ninth double-double this year tallying 13 kills to go along with 12 digs. She also grabbed one of the two aces seen on the evening and three blocks, while hitting .214 on 42 attacks with four errors.
Junior Tatum Chase, junior Merima Smajlovic and redshirt sophomore Yasemin Elmas bolstered the effort, nabbing eight kills a piece. Elmas hit a .316 on 19 attempts with two errors, while pacing the team with five blocks. Chase was nearly identical, hitting .313 on 16 attempts with three errors.
In addition to Bilby, two more Redhawks corralled in double-digit digs on the evening. Senior Katlyn Sipes paced the team with 19 digs, while adding six assists. Smajlovic followed suit with 16 digs.
The freshmen setter tandem of Grace Jones and Anae Asuncion continued to weave the Seattle U offense as the duo combined for 32 assists. Jones led the team with 20 assists, while Asuncion narrowly missed a double-double after registering nine digs.
Alongside Elmas, sophomore Taniyah Pruitt cataloged five blocks, including two solo blocks, to pace the Redhawk defense. She also recorded two kills, including the match winner. Junior Marley Hardgrave followed just behind the pair, recording four blocks and three kills while hitting .300 on ten attempts with no errors.
Together, the Redhawks recorded 42 kills, 12 blocks, 41 assists and 63 digs en route to the shutout. They hit a collective .212 on 132 and 14 errors. Utah Tech grabbed 37 kills, hitting .109 on 129 attempts and 23 errors.
The match opened in a back-and-forth before the Trailblazers looked to grab some footing. Down 11-8, the Redhawks rattled off a 7-1 run to turn the tables and claim the set lead 15-12. While Utah Tech disrupted the 3-0 run led by Sipes at the service line, the Redhawks got up to a 19-13 lead behind three SU kills and a Utah Tech error. The Trailblazers took a page from Seattle U's book, surging ahead to a 21-19 lead before back to back kills from Elmas tied it 21-all. After trading scores to remain even at 23, the Redhawks scored three of the last four points to take the first set 26-24.
Carrying the momentum from the first set, the Redhawks lept out 3-0 at the start of the second set, but Utah Tech muscled back the lead with a run of its own. Seattle U trailed by as many as four before reclaiming the lead off of two kills from Bilby and an ace from Smajlovic. The Redhawks outscored the Trailblazers 3-1 to take set two, with Chase slamming home the final point with a kill.
In an effort to avoid the sweep, the Trailblazers commanded the early third set lead, going up 6-1. After regrouping the Redhawks chipped back to tie it 9-all before going up 16-14. Taking advantage of Utah Tech miscues, the Redhawks led by as many as six after Elmas put Seattle U up 22-16. Chase hit home to grant match point after a kill got the Redhawks up 24-19, but with their backs against the wall the Trailblazers scored twice before Pruitt locked up the victory, rocketing a kill through the Utah Tech defenses.
The Redhawks host one final home match on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Tarleton State to the Redhawk Center on November 16 at 1 p.m. Seattle U will celebrate its four seniors on Senior Day prior to the start of the match.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a gift to Seattle University Athletics can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly impacts all Redhawk student athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community. Thank you for supporting Seattle University Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Stay connected with Seattle U volleyball and get all the latest team updates by downloading the GoSeattleU mobile app available now for free in the App Store or Google Play.