BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Top-seeded The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) volleyball team dropped its Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament Semifinal Match to fourth-seeded Utah Valley University (UVU) 0-3 (22-25, 20-25, 23-25) on Friday at the Icardo Center.
 
Junior Barbara Silva led UTRGV (22-8) with eight kills and three blocks. Senior Ragni Steen Knudsen recorded seven kills and four digs. Freshman Pamela Moreira also had seven kills. Senior Gysell Zayas finished with a match-high 24 digs.
 
Kazna Tarawhitiled Utah Valley (18-12) with 13 kills and three blocks. Kristen Allred finished with 11 kills and six digs. Madi Wardle posted a double-double with 21 assists and 11 digs.
 
UTRGV led by as much as three in the first set, going up 7-4 on a block by Silva and senior Alexandra Ecker and 8-5 on a Silva kill. UTRGV still had the lead at 13-11 on a Moreira kill by, but UVU responded with a 9-3 run to take a 20-16 lead. UTRGV got as close as two three times, including 22-24 on a Knudsen kill, before a block by Tarawhiti and Jasmin Niutupuivaha ended the set.
 
The second set was tight early, with UTRGV taking a 9-8 lead on an attack error. UVU responded by scoring the next five points, however, to take the lead. UTRGV got as close as two twice, at 15-17 on a kill by senior Antonela Jularic and 16-18 on an error before UVU outscored UTRGV 7-4 the rest of the way.
 
UVU scored the first six points of the third set and maintained a similar lead until it was 18-13. That's when a kill by junior Talita Oliveira sparked a 7-1 run to give UTRGV a 20-19 lead. UTRGV also led at 21-20 on an error and 22-21 on a Knudsen kill. UVU, however, scored four of the last five points to end the match.

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