Haynie leads the Utes with 10 kills, nine digs and six blocks.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Senior outside hitter Kathryn Haynie put on an impressive all-around display with 10 kills, nine digs and a career-high-tying six blocks as the University of Utah volleyball team bounced back with a 3-0 win (25-21, 25-13, 25-19) against Florida Gulf Coast in the New Mexico State Tournament Saturday morning at the Pan American Center.
"We just played a steady match," Utah head coach Beth Launiere said. "We kept our composure [after last night's loss and throughout the match]. It was a good way to start the day."
Utah (3-1) was led by Haynie, a native of North Salt Lake City, who has hit double-figures in kills in three of four matches this season. Haynie has also led or tied for the team lead in kills in three of Utah's matches, as well. Haynie finished just one short of tying her season-high mark in digs, coming up with nine digs in just three sets.
"[Kathryn] has been playing really well," Launiere said. "She's just really stepping up in her role and playing like a senior, someone who has been in our program for three seasons."
The entire Ute squad stepped up defensively in this match, particularly on the block. Utah outblocked Florida Gulf Coast in the match, 12-3. Haynie and classmate Emillie Toone both blocked six Eagle attack attempts apiece. Haynie's six blocks tied her career high, a mark she achieved twice before: against New Mexico on Nov. 13 last season and Utah State in 2006. Toone leads the Utes in blocking so far this season with a total of 15 and is averaging 1.07 blocks-per-set through this season's first four matches.
"It was good to see that we finally got our blocking going," Launiere said. "We know we're a good team on the block, but we haven't been showing it too often this season."
Only up 19-18 late in the first set, the Utes scored three unanswered points thanks to kills by Toone and Silva along with a service ace from Haynie to build a four-point lead at 22-18. Another pair of kills from Cinthia Silva helped Utah maintain its lead and take the first set, 25-21.
Already ahead 14-9 midway through the second set, Utah went on a 6-0 run to put the set out of reach. Junior middle blocker Chelsey Sandberg came up big with two kills and two blocks in this critical stretch of the Utes' 25-13 set win. Sandberg finished the match with a total of five kills and three blocks.
Utah found itself down 3-1 early in the final set but the Utes managed to tie the match at 10 points apiece and wrapped up the victory with a 6-1 run to gain an edge they would never lose. Lori Baird keyed this pivotal Utah run with two kills and a service ace along with another kill from Sandburg. The Utes led by as many as seven and cruised to the 25-19 match-clinching win.
On the back line, sophomore libero Keisha Fisher registered a season-high 14 digs, while Silva was not far behind with a season-high of her own at 13.
Abby Simmons got her first career start at setter for Utah and set up the Utes with 31 assists, and also chipped in four digs, two blocks, one kill and one service ace.
The Utes will take on the Houston Cougars today at 4:30 p.m., at the Pan American Center then will wrap up the tournament tomorrow at 7 p.m., against the tournament host, New Mexico State.
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