SUU volleyball pushes Montana in two close sets but falls 3-0
The Thunderbirds, 0-11 in the Big Sky, lost the last two sets 29-27 and 26-24 on Halloween night.
CEDAR CITY - Montana swept Southern Utah volleyball 3-0 (25-17, 29-27, 26-24) on Halloween night, though the Thunderbirds forced extra points in the last two sets, according to SUU Athletics.
SUU fell to 1-21 overall and 0-11 in the Big Sky Conference. Montana improved to 7-16 and 3-9.
In the second set, neither team led by more than three points. Trailing 24-22, SUU tied it on kills by Ryen Smith and Emilia Zug, and Maya Banks had kills to tie it again at 25 and 26 before Montana won 29-27.
SUU had five of its eight blocks in the third set. Cala Cooper's kill put SUU ahead 24-23, but Montana scored the next three points to win 26-24.
Audrey Atwood led SUU with nine kills and a.292 hitting percentage. Cooper added a season-high eight kills, and Emilia Linden had four blocks. Celeste Uruena Jensen had team highs of 11 digs and 17 assists.
Zug had six kills and became the fourth SUU player to reach 100 kills this season.
SUU plays at Weber State in Ogden at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.