TCU
Utah
No. 16 Utah tops Frogs, 3-0
10/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 7, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- The No. 16 Utah Utes were too tough for TCU as it dropped a 3-0 (30-27, 30-17, 30-14) decision Saturday night. The Frogs battled tough, but Utah had an answer for everything the Frogs threw at them. For the third night in a row the Frogs were led by LeMeita Smith, who dropped in nine kills in the loss. Calli Corley led the Frogs defensively with a match-high 14 kills.The Frogs and the Utes battled to a 9-9 tie in the opening game. Kills by LeMeita Smith and Lauren Otto helped the Frogs hold off a powerful Utah attack. After falling behind 10-9, Emily Allen and Anna Vaughn teamed up to stuff a Ute attack to knot the game, but Utah rattled off two straight points to take a lead they would never relinquish.
A 3-0 run by the Frogs behind kills from Smith and Allen pulled TCU within one, 16-15, but another Ute 5-0 run put away any thoughts of a Frog comeback. Trailing 27-20, the Frogs went on a 7-2 run to make it 29-27, but Kathryn Lovell ended the rally, giving Utah the 30-27 game one victory.
Utah dominated game two as they stole all the momentum the Frogs gained in game one. The Frogs had a brief 2-1 lead before the Utes went on a 4-0 run to open up a 5-2 lead. Kills from Vaughn and Smith brought TCU back to within one, but the Utes put together a 12-4 run to make it a 17-8 lead capped by a Whitney Webb and Emillie Toone block. The Utes cruised from there, winning 30-17 to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Another large deficit greeted TCU in the third set as Utah built an early 9-3 lead. The Frogs battled back with a 4-0 run on two kills each by Edwards and Smith to make it a 9-7 contest, but Utah got the stop they needed.
With the Frogs trailing 11-9, Utah went on an 8-0 run to open up a 10-point advantage at 19-9 and from there they rolled to the 30-14 victory.
With the loss, the Frogs fall to 14-6 on the season and 3-4 in conference play. They will return home for a four-game home stand beginning Friday when they host New Mexico. Match time is slated for 7 p.m. at the University Rec Center.
