Ute Volleyball Holds Red & White Match To Close Out Fall Camp
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah volleyball closed out its 2021 fall camp with the annual Red & White match on Saturday afternoon, playing a five-set match in the Jon M. Huntsman Center before the season officially kicks off next Friday, August 27.
The Utes switched teams set-by-set, but it was the White team that jumped out ahead early with a 2-0 lead after winning the first two sets 25-19 and 25-10. Dani Drews set the tone early for the White team and through the first two sets, she totaled 12 kills on a .533 hitting clip. In the first two sets, the white team tallied nine blocks to just one from the Red team.
After more switches to the rosters, the Red team fell behind midway through the set 18-14, but a 6-2 run put the third set tied at 20-all. The Red team fended off two set points and a kill from Kennedi Evans followed by an ace from Evans would get the Red team on the board and trail just two sets to one.
The Red team continued momentum into the fourth set and broke away in the middle to lead 22-15 and not look back. Despite Madelyn Robinson's eight kills for the White team at a .400 hitting percentage in the set, the Red team pushed through to even the match 2-2 after back-to-back kills from freshman Kamry Bailey, who played on the Red Team all match, closed out the set 25-19.
The Utes' competiveness poured through and continued until the very last point. The fifth set went to extra points and finally after the sixth match point of the set, Drews put the ball away for good to lead the Red team to victory 19-17.
Drews won all five sets after beginning on the White team and finishing on the Red team. She totaled 25 kills and 12 digs. Robinson finished the match with 17 kills and 15 digs for the White team, while Evans collected 14 kills between the two teams. Abby Karich had 13 kills, and Zoe Weatherington and Kamry Bailey had 12 each. Bailey also had 13 digs.
Emily Smith finished the scrimmage with 46 assists, playing four sets for the White team where she earned 39 assists. She also totaled 16 digs for a double-double with Drews and Bailey. Stef Jankiewicz also made an appearance for the first time as a Ute, where she dished out 13 assists in just two sets of action.
Holding down the backcourt was Vanessa Ramirez with 21 digs and senior transfer Kiley McMurtrey with 20 digs. Allie Olsen tallied 9.0 blocks in the scrimmage to lead the net play.
Utah volleyball opens the 2021 season this Friday, August 27 at Utah Valley in Orem, Utah. The match is at 6 p.m. MT. Then, Utah Valley will make the return trip to Salt Lake City on Saturday, August 28 for Utah's home opener at 7 p.m. MT.