The Wolverines tallied 88 digs — tied for the sixth most in the program’s 25-point era and their highest total since recording 95 digs against Utah Tech in 2021. Sami Blackett finished with 18 digs, Evalyn Chism added 21 digs and 54 assists — four shy of her career high — and Lani Matavao contributed 19 digs. Bella Wooden added ten kills and ten blocks with three being solo blocks, to move her into first place all-time in single season solo blocks. Olivia Gloeckner added 11 kills, six blocks, and five digs to the UVU defensive tally.

“This one is sweet,” UVU head coach Sam Atoa said. “After such a challenging year I am so proud of the team for their resilience and determination to stay the course. I am also so proud and grateful for my staff and coaches for everything they have done to support this team!! Tonight we won for the Wolverine family and the University.”

Utah Valley jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind two service aces from Bella Wooden before Utah Tech tied it at 8-8. The Wolverines regained control with a Page kill and a block assist from Wooden and Olivia Gloeckner. Wooden added her second kill to push the lead to 14-8, and despite Utah Tech narrowing the gap to 18-17, UVU closed out the opening set.

Utah Tech responded in the second set, building a 24-18 lead before Utah Valley surged with a 7-0 run sparked by a Blackett kill. Chism held serve for six straight points, with Blackett recording three kills during the stretch. Gloeckner added two kills and a block assist, including the one that tied it at 24-24. The Trailblazers, however, edged out the set 27-25.

Utah Valley capitalized on Utah Tech errors to open an early lead in the third set. A Wooden block and a Gloeckner kill helped UVU move ahead 3-2, and the Wolverines extended the lead to 14-7 behind kills from Page and Gloeckner and key blocks from Alyvia Jaffa and Chism. Utah Tech closed within 19-17 before UVU sealed the set with a 6-0 run capped by a Page kill.

Utah Tech evened the match with a 25-21 win in the fourth. UVU pulled within 10-9 after an attack error by Marley Roe and later took a 15-14 lead behind three kills from Jaffa and one from Page. The Trailblazers regained momentum and closed out the set to force a decisive fifth.

Utah Valley dominated the final frame. Gloeckner opened with a kill, and Page followed with multiple kills to extend the lead to 6-3. A service ace from Natalie Riggs pushed the margin to 9-3, and the Wolverines took advantage of Utah Tech errors down the stretch, finishing the match on an attack error by Taylor Snow for the 15-6 victory.

The Wolverines will find out the location and opponent for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 30 at 4:00 p.m. MT on ESPN.

Nokes runs to All-American finish at NCAA Cross Country Championships

Morgan Nokes became the second All-American in Utah Valley cross country history on Saturday, placing 23rd in the women’s 6k National Championship race with a time of 19:10.4.

Nokes joins Everlyn Kemboi — who placed 19th back in 2022 — as the only two All-Americans in cross country program history.

In his first trip to Nationals, freshman Sila Kiplagat finished 135th with a 10k time of 29:51.1.

“Morgan is an All-American, and that’s a huge thing when you think of 315+ teams in the country with 20 athletes, and it just goes to show how good she is,” said head coach Scott Houle. “She had a great race and every 1000 meters she was passing people. Her time at each kilometer was great, and she gave herself a shot to get the place she earned. I’m proud of the confidence she has, and it just shows you can achieve these things anywhere if you follow the process and work hard, and she’s another one in a long list that we’ve been able to do that with. I’m proud of her efforts, her belief in us and the school, and her representing the school.”

Nokes capped off her storybook season with her best 6k time of her collegiate career and improved by 33 seconds on her time from her previous run on the Gans Creek Cross Country Course earlier this season.

After finding herself in 73rd at the first kilometer, Nokes steadily worked her way back towards the front, climbing at least eight spots at each checkpoint. Between the second kilometer and the fourth kilometer, Nokes climbed 24 spots to move from 64th to 40th. Down the home stretch, Nokes climbed nine spots to 31st at the 5k mark, then rose eight spots to 23rd at the end.

Nokes’ All-American finish is the culmination of an arduous and inspirational return for the graduate student from Boise, Idaho. Just eight months ago, Nokes gave birth to her son, Theo, and trained her way back to put up arguably the best individual season in program history. Nokes won a women’s team-record five races this season, was named the WAC Women’s Athlete of the Year, and finished seventh at last week’s Mountain Regionals.

Kiplagat started off strong through the first two kilometers, peaking as high as 50th, but faded back to 163rd by the fourth kilometer. Kiplagat was able to surge up to 138th at the halfway point, but wouldn’t rise any higher until the final kilometer when he was able to pick up 19 spots, going from 154th to 135th.

After arriving mid-season, Kiplagat made up for lost time with an impressive freshman campaign. Kiplagat won his second collegiate race, the Color Country Invitational, and was the men’s team’s top finisher in every race he competed in, including a runner-up finish at the WAC Championships. Kiplagat was named the WAC Men’s Freshman of the Year.

Utah Valley will now shift its attention to the indoor season, which will begin in a few short weeks. The Wolverines’ first meet will be on December 10-11 at the BYU December Invitational in Provo.