LINCOLN, Neb. -- The University of Utah made sure its first-ever trip to the NCAA volleyball tournament lasted at least two days as the Utes swept past the Illinois State Redbirds to earn a date with third-ranked Nebraska.
Utah advanced with the 15-11, 15-12, 15-5 victory as Kalani Tonga powered home 15 kills. Sara Shakula added 10 kills for the Utes."I was really pleased with our effort," said U. coach Beth Launiere. "It was a lot of fun. We've been a pretty good blocking team all year, but it hasn't been one of our strengths . . . The team showed a lot of perseverance. We had the blue-collar, Larry Bird mentality."
Tonga agreed, mindful of the team effort by the 21-9 Utes. "We've had a lot of games where bits and pieces came together really well. And we've played really well like that. But we knew coming into the tournament that we'd have to have all our strengths."
Utah finished the opening game with a 9-1 rally and ended the second game on a 12-2 tear before going into intermission.
The Utes then made quick work of the Redbirds as they cruised through the final game of the match behind the record-setting ball handling of Graciela Torres.
Torres set a Utah career assist record as she recorded 40 assists against ISU to push her career mark to 3,656. The old record was set in 1992 by Denise Rathburn.
The Utes won't get long to celebrate their first ever trip the national tournament. Nebraska enters the
second round with a 29-1 record after dismantling Morgan State in a sweep.
Utah had .259 hitting percentage in the match and limited ISU to .148.