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SALT LAKE CITY — In a thrilling match Sunday afternoon at the Huntsman Center, Utah managed to secure the first set, but ultimately fell to the visiting USC Trojans 3-1.
The opening set was a closely-contested battle as both teams traded points, and Emrie Satuala initiated the action with the first swing for the Utes. The score was tied at 5-5 when sophomore setter Viktoria Wahlgren took to the service line and delivered three consecutive aces, igniting a Utes run. Laurene Jardine's powerful hit from the pin extended Utah's lead to 9-5, prompting the Trojans to call a timeout.
After the timeout, the Trojans mounted a comeback, narrowing the deficit with kills from Rylie McGinist and London Wijay. Utes coach Beth Launiere made a key substitution, bringing in freshman Kamryn Gibadlo, who added firepower at the net to re-establish Utah's 5-point lead. The Utes maintained the advantage for the remainder of the set, even as Skylar Fields and the Trojans managed to tie the score at 20-all. A combination of kills from Allie Olsen and Gibadlo secured the first set for the Utes, with a score of 25-21.
In the second set, the Utes found themselves trailing 19-12, but staged a spirited comeback to reduce the deficit to 5. But the formidable swings from Fields proved to be insurmountable, and the Trojans clinched the second set with a score of 25-20.
Determined to mount a comeback, the Utes and Trojans engaged in a back-and-forth battle in the third set, with the score tied 12 times during the set. Amelia Van Der Werff's powerful hit helped the Utes reach the 20-point mark first, but the intense competition continued. At 24-24, USC's Madison Pietsch made a crucial hit from the right side, giving the Trojans its second set point. A fierce swing from Fields secured the Trojans' victory in the third set with a score of 26-24.
With a 2-1 lead in its favor, the Trojans aimed to seal the match. They succeeded with a fourth-set score of 25-21.
Leading the offensive charge for the Utes was Jardine, who delivered 14 kills, closely followed by Gibadlo with 13 of her own.
The Utes' season record now stands at 9-13, and they will be hitting the road to face the Oregon schools. Meanwhile, the Trojans improve to 14-8 and will return to Los Angeles to take on the Arizona schools.
