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Sophomore setter Abby Simmons had a season-high 30 assists in Saturday's win over Missouri.
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Sept. 7, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
The University of Utah volleyball team ends its six-match road stretch with three matches this week. The Utes begin the week by traveling to Utah State Tuesday at 7 p.m. MT. Utah plays No. 25 Arizona Friday at 7 p.m. PT in its first match at the Santa Clara Invitational then takes on the host Broncos Saturday at 7 p.m. PT.
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Last Time Out
The Utes went 1-2 last weekend at Utah Valley's LaQuinta Inn & Suites Invitational, dropping a 3-1 decision to Utah Valley, a 3-0 match to Washington State before defeating Missouri, 3-1, in four sets.
Sandberg Steps Up
In Utah's four matches last week, Chelsey Sandberg (West Jordan, Utah) led Utah in blocking (1.07 blocks per set), hitting percentage (.419) and service aces (seven for a 0.50 service ace per set average) for the Utes. She was also second on the team with 47.0 points and finished fourth on the Ute squad with 2.29 kills per set.
Sandberg also posted a pair of career highs, starting in Tuesday's home win against Cal Poly, she served a career-high six aces then had a career high 11 kills Saturday morning against Washington State. She earned All-Tournament team recognition at the LaQuinta Inn & Suites Invitational in Orem, Utah. Sandberg used 19 swings and committed three errors to connect on her 11 kills with a .421 hitting percentage in the match against the Cougars. Sandberg came up with a match-high six blocks in Saturday's four-set win over Missouri. In Friday's match at Utah Valley, Sandberg had nine kills on only 15 attempts with only two errors for a .467 hitting percentage. She also came up with a team-high four blocks during the match.
The Essentials
When out-performing their opponents in fundamental areas of the game (hitting, blocking, and serving), the Utes have established an impressive record early this season. Utah is 5-0 when accumulating a higher hitting percentage, 5-0 when out-blocking its opponents, and 3-0 when serving more aces,
Hyping Hibbert
Sarah Hibbert (Anchorage, Alaska) has emerged as Utah's leading attacker through the first seven matches this season. She leads the team with 3.04 kills per set. Hibbert set a new career high in kills twice last week, first connecting for a career-high 13 kills Tuesday against Cal Poly. Hibbert tallied a new personal best with 17 kills on 35 swings with three miscues for a .400 hitting percentage in Saturday's 3-1 win over Missouri in Orem, Utah.
Lanting Lighting It Up
Six-foot-six sophomore middle blocker Jennifer Lanting (Corcoran, Calif.) posted a new career high with 12 kills on 22 attempts. She is averaging 1.60 kills and 0.48 blocks per set and has record a pair of double-figure-kill performances this season.
Double-Dipping
Karolina Bartkowiak (Aurora, Ill.) and Cinthia Silva (San Paulo, Brazil) are the two Utes who have recorded double-double matches this season. Both Bartkowiak and Silva recorded double-doubles against Missouri on Saturday. Silva had 12 digs and 10 kills for her first double-double of the season while Bartkowiak's third double-double of the season came via an 11 kill, 11 dig performance against the Tigers.
Utes In The Polls
Utah received 75 votes in the most recent 2009 AVCA Coaches Top-25 Preseason Poll, released Monday, Sept. 7. Utah also received votes in the Volleyball Magazine poll, which was released Tuesday, Sept. 8.
The Utes have a pair of matches against top-25 this season, beginning with Friday's match versus No. 25 Arizona and a Sept. 15 match at Crimson Court against No. 12 Oregon. The Utes also have two matches against teams receiving votes in the poll, beginning Saturday at Santa Clara, which received 16 votes and travels to Long Beach State, which received 55 votes, for a Nov. 28 match. Utah was the only MWC school to appear in the poll.
Launiere Nears 400 Victories
As the fifth coach in school history, Beth Launiere has compiled a 396-214 (.646) mark in over 19 seasons at Utah, the only school in which she has been head coach. After taking over in 1990, the three-time AVCA West Region and MWC Coach of the Year has 63 percent of the program's victories over the first 34 seasons of the program.
Scouting Utah State
Utah State (2-2): The Aggies own victories over in-state rivals Weber State and BYU this season coupled with losses to Gonzaga and Utah Valley. Sophomore outside hitter Liz McArthur is the overwhelming leader on the attack, posting 3.50 kills per set through USU's first four matches. Shantell Durrant is the leading blocker with 1.17 blocks per set, while setter Chelsea Fowles distributes 10.55 assists per set. The Utes own a 42-24 edge in the all-time series after sweeping the Aggies on Sept. 12, 2008 on the first day of the Utah Classic at Crimson Court.
Scouting The Santa Clara Invitational Field
No. 25 Arizona (6-0): The Wildcats have only dropped two sets en route to their first six wins this season. The Utes trail the all-time series 16-4 with the last meeting coming Dec. 5, 2005 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Crimson Court where Arizona came away with a 3-1 win.
Santa Clara (4-2): After starting this season with consecutive losses to UCLA and Hawai'i at the Hawai'i Invitational, the Broncos have reeled off four straight wins heading into their home tournament. The Utes took a 4-3 lead in the all-time series after taking a five-set victory over SCU on Aug. 31, 2008 at the Ute Invitational.
Utes Picked To Win MWC
Utah was selected to repeat as MWC champions in the 2009 Preseason Coaches Poll. In addition, junior opposite hitter and co-captain Bartkowiak was named to the Preseason All-MWC Team.
Launiere For President
As of Jan. 1, 2009, Launiere has served as President of the AVCA. Launiere's impact on the sport goes well beyond the court. Since 2004 she has guided volleyball on the national stage as a member of the AVCA Board of Directors.
Utes Go International
Launiere was selected as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's National Team at the 2009 FIVB World Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Miao Li, Chinese Tapei.
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