This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • Here's the thing about the postseason: You never know what you're going to get.
Returning to the postseason after a year-long hiatus with a young team, No. 22 Utah got UNLV— an experienced program, a tough-to-scheme-for right side, a front-row setter which had been unfamiliar to them, and a gritty first-round match against a very motivated underdog.
And Utah, in four sets (25-27, 21-25, 25-19, 25-20), was sent on its way in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday evening in Smith Fieldhouse.
It was crushing for the Utes (20-12), who fell into a two-set hole to the Rebels before splitting the final two for the quick bus ride back to Salt Lake City. But one of the nation's most prolific offenses was outdone in efficiency by its Mountain West counterparts, who hit for 31 percent and pushed Utah in ways it hadn't yet been pushed.
Junior Adora Anae, who finished with a team-best 21 kills, said the Utes — who didn't play any seniors in the match — will learn from the experience. But no one will see the results until next season.
"We were saying in the locker room tonight that great teams have to be consistent," she said. "They really scouted us well. They defended us well. They played a great match."
It came down to a hotly contested fourth set, in which Utah competed point-for-point until the final minutes. Trailing 20-19 out of a timeout, the Utes hit a set into the net, had a service error, and had an attack that didn't go over for a 24-20 match point.
The last point itself was a journey, with both teams rallying for great saves, but the final strike by junior Tawnee Luafalemana went long, sealing the upset for UNLV.
It had required a spirited comeback to even get to four: After dropping the first two sets, the Utes took their first meaningful lead of the match in the third, 16-10, as junior Carly Trueman got hot and Utah's blockers firmed up at the net for four straight points. Utah also finished strong with a flourish from Anae, who had her squad's last three kills of the set, and served on the set point that Utah won, 25-19, on a UNLV error.
The first two frames saw Utah struggle against the Rebels' attack: Setter Alexis Patterson (six kills, 49 assists) posed the rare ability to attack from the front line, which coach Beth Launiere said her team had only seen a handful of times this season. Her unpredictable threat helped keep Utah's defense off-balance.
"Our offense was good — we hit for our average — but they outhit us," Launiere said. "They've got a bunch of seniors. They weren't going to be denied."
Among the seniors was Bree Hammel, who knocked in 18 kills, and Sadie Stutzman, who had 14. Blockers were able to get the better of several of Utah's hitters, particularly in the second set, and totaled 14 blocks in the match (twice as many as the Utes).
For Utah, Trueman added 15 kills, while Luafalemana had 10.
The Utes started out the match with a service error and proceeded at a sluggish pace, ceding a 6-2 lead to the Rebels. Trueman stepped up for Utah, getting kills (part of her seven in the set) on UNLV's first two set points to stave off getting into a hole early. But Hammel finished it for the Rebels, sending a shot rocketing through Utah's defense to take the first set 27-25.
The second set saw Utah struggle offensively against the Rebel front line which had six blocks in the period. Launiere called a timeout with her team down 20-14, and out of it Tawnee Luafalemana had three kills to narrow it to 22-20.
But out of a UNLV timeout, Utah opened with a service error that took the heat off their run, then lost the set, 25-21, on a miscommunication at the net.
UNLV coach Cindy Fredrick said "it'd be an understatement to say I feel pretty good," about the match, which she thought could favor her squad— an unconventional match-up in many ways. The Rebels draw a rematch with No. 10 BYU, which swept them earlier in the season.
Utah, however, draws only painful experience, having ended the season on a four-game slide. Leaving Smith Fieldhouse, the Utes felt confident they would be able to build on their lessons.
Just not this year.
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Storylines
R The Utes go down 0-2, then split the final two sets in an NCAA first-round exit.
• Junior Adora Anae leads Utah with 21 kills, adds 13 digs.
• UNLV senior Bree Hammel has 18 kills to lead the Rebels.