OREM — The Utah Valley State women's volleyball team finished its season over the weekend with a win at the Division I Championships in Greeley, Colo.
The Wolverines won all five of their tournament matches to finish the season with an 18-11 record.
Junior setter Lacee Koelliker was named tournament MVP. Camie Manwill and Maegan Hoyt were also named to the All-Tournament team for UVSC.
"It was a great run," Wolverines coach Sam Atoa said. "It was awesome to see the girls earn what they deserved in the end. I'm just overjoyed for them."
In the championship match, Utah Valley defeated South Dakota State in four games, 30-28, 31-29, 19-30, 30-27. Koelliker had 59 assists and 17 digs, and Manwill finished her freshman season with a 14 digs and a career-high 22 kills.
The Wolverines began the tournament by defeating North Dakota State in five games Thursday. On Friday, UVSC swept South Dakota State and Providence. The Wolverines beat host Northern Colorado on Saturday to qualify for the championship round and a rematch with the Jackrabbits.
The tournament victory marks a bright spot for a UVSC athletic department that is taking its lumps in most other sports during the school's first years of Division I competition.
"This is not only great for our program, but it is great for the school and the athletic department as a whole," Atoa said.
With only Hoyt and outside hitter Anne Olsen graduating, the Wolverines are likely to be even better next year. Koelliker and middle blocker Jessica Endres return up front, and Manwill and Brooke Adams will be back as outside hitters.
They said it
"We're turning role players into main players, and that sometimes never works out. I think these two exhibition games really gave us the chance to see a bit at this stage who were role players and who has the courage to step up and make a play and make a basket and do a good job defensively." Men's basketball coach Dick Hunsaker, following UVSC's 59-57 exhibition loss to Mesa State last Tuesday.
The week that was
MEN'S BASKETBALL: The Wolverines dropped their season-opener to Colgate 55-42 in the first round of the Guardians Classic at the University of Iowa. Utah Valley shot just 35 percent from the field and scored only 14 points in the first half.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: The Wolverines finished their exhibition schedule Saturday with a 85-69 victory over Mesa State. Freshman forward Robyn Fairbanks led UVSC with 17 points and 16 rebounds in just 22 minutes of play.
On tap
MEN'S BASKETBALL: vs. Texas State, 7:05 p.m. Saturday; vs. Western Illinois, 7:05 p.m. Tuesday.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: vs. Jacksonville State, 7:05 p.m. Friday; vs. Air Force, 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.
WRESTLING: at the University of Northern Colorado Open, all day Saturday.
E-mail: jaskar@desnews.com