SALT LAKE CITY -€“ The Utah Valley State volleyball team put up a fight, but were swept 30-23, 30-19, and 30-16, by the No. 24-ranked (USA Today /CSTV) University of Utah in its season opener Wednesday night on Crimson Court.

Alina Wallauer led the Wolverine offense with a match-high 11 kills, and freshman Jessica Endres added seven while hitting a solid .353. However, the Utes' front line didn't allow UVSC to get going, as they controlled the game with 19.5 team blocks, and forced the Wolverines to make 28 attack errors.

Lacee Koelliker handled the setting duties for the Wolverines. Koelliker ended up with a match-high 27 assists.

Wallauer finished with a match-high 11 digs, and Anne Olsen and Koelliker added six and five, respectively.

Lyndsey Henderson and Danielle Leichliter led the Ute offense. Henderson hit .467 for the match while collecting nine kills and Leichliter finished with eight and a .444 hitting percentage.

In game one, the Wolverines erased a five-point deficit to tie the game at nine apiece, but an 11-3 run put the Utes back in control, 20-12. Utah held off a late UVSC surge for the seven-point, game-one victory.

Game two was tight, as Utah's lead wasn't more than a five-points for most of the game. The Utes were able to extend it to seven late, 25-18, and ended up with the 11-point win. Utah hit .121 for the game but the difference was the Utes' 10.5 team blocks to UVSC's 2.0 for the game.

Utah pulled away midway through the third game, taking a 14-10 edge. However, Utah's lead stretched to seven points (22-15) as it completed the sweep with an 8-1 run en route to the 14-point victory.

UVSC (0-1) will travel to Missoula, Montana to match up against the University of Montana on Tuesday, September 9 th . Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm (MST).