Utah volleyball ready to host NCAA Tournament with first matchup Thursday

SALT LAKE CITY — The 17th-ranked Utah volleyball team is returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, riding a wave of momentum and excitement.

With seven consecutive wins to closeout the regular season, the Utes earned the No. 4 seed in the tournament and will host the first and second rounds at the Huntsman Center Thursday and Friday.

Action kicks off Thursday as Utah takes on the College of Charleston at 7:30 p.m. MST.

This weekend marks the fourth time Utah has hosted the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament, a feat last accomplished in 2017. It's a testament to the program's growth under head coach Beth Launiere, who has led Utah to every one of its NCAA Tournament appearances since the team's debut on the national stage in 1998.

"It is pretty amazing, honestly, to go from 11 wins last year to hosting this year," Launiere said. "We had big wins and we had zero bad losses. We deserve this seed. This team is fun to watch. I've coached a lot of teams through the years, but this team is special."

The Utes ended their first Big 12 season with a statement win, edging Iowa State in a five-set thriller. Their seven-match winning streak propelled them to a No. 17 ranking in the AVCA Top 25.

"This will be a really big step for Utah volleyball moving forward into next year," said junior middle blocker Emrie Satuala. "It's definitely been a huge turnaround for us. I think all the work that we've put in during the spring has definitely paid off."

Utah's success has been fueled by a roster hungry to make its mark on the program and the sport.

Outside hitter Lauren Jardine praised the team's resilience, saying: "I think our team has worked our butts off to get to where we are right now, and I'm excited for what the future holds. Seeing volleyball become a bigger sport than what it used to be is just an amazing thing."

The first-round matchups on Thursday include Marquette (23-8, 16-2 Big East) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (27-4, 15-1 ASUN) at 4:30 p.m. MST, followed by Utah (22-6, 13-5 Big 12) vs. College of Charleston (25-8, 15-3 CAA) at 7:30 p.m. MST.

The winners of Thursday's games will face off in the second round Friday at 7 p.m. MST, with a trip to the regional semifinals on the line.

For the Utes, Thursday's opportunity is about more than just postseason play, it's a celebration of how far the program has come.

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