Utah volleyball battles to the wire, falls in 2nd round loss to Marquette in 5 sets

SALT LAKE CITY — In front of a roaring Huntsman Center crowd, the 17th-ranked Utah volleyball team saw its season come to a bittersweet end Friday night.

The Utes fell in a five-set thriller to Marquette in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Huntsman Center.

The fourth-seeded Utes, who had swept the College of Charleston in the first round, showcased their trademark resilience and grit throughout the match. Despite falling behind 2-0 early, Utah rallied to force a deciding fifth set, led by senior Lauren Jardine's dominant performance.

Jardine tallied 17 kills and eight blocks, a fitting conclusion to her standout collegiate career.

"This group likes to have fun, and they've proven that all year," Utah head coach Beth Launiere said. "More importantly, I'm proud of my players and how they fought tonight. It wasn't easy."

Early struggles, late fire

Marquette set the tone in the first two sets with precise offense and defense. The Golden Eagles' Aubrey Hamilton was nearly unstoppable, leading all players with 20 kills on the night. Hamilton and Natalie Ring combined for 25 kills in the first two sets, taking advantage of Utah's attack errors and forcing the Utes to play catch-up.

Despite trailing, Utah refused to back down. In the third set, the Utes flipped the script. Emrie Satuala, fresh off a career-high .727 hitting percentage in the first round, delivered critical points at the net. Jardine also found her rhythm, helping Utah secure a 25-18 victory and keep their tournament hopes alive.

The fourth set was a nail-biter, with the score tied at 23-23. A clutch service ace by Kamryn Gibadlo brought Utah to set point, but Marquette's Carsen Murray responded with a pivotal kill to even the score. Back-to-back kills from Jardine and Kamry Bailey finally sealed the set, sending the match into a decisive fifth.

A heartbreaking finish

The energy in the Huntsman Center was electric heading into the fifth set, with fans rallying behind the Utes in their final home appearance of the season.

Jardine and Bailey continued to lead the charge, but Marquette's balanced attack proved too much to overcome. The Golden Eagles capitalized on a late attacking stretch to win 15-12 and advance to the Sweet 16 round.

A season to remember

The Utah season ends with an impressive 25-6 record and a No. 17 ranking in the final AVCA poll. They entered the second-round matchup on an eight-match winning streak, including four consecutive home sweeps.

Jardine's performance throughout the season earned her recognition as the 35th overall pick in the Pro Volleyball Federation draft, while teammates Kamryn Gibadlo and Allie Olssen secured All-Big 12 first-team honors.

For the seniors, including Jardine, Bailey, and Satuala, Friday's match marked an emotional farewell.

While the loss stings, Utah volleyball's future looks bright. With a strong core of underclassmen and Launiere's steady leadership, the Utes are poised to build on this year's successes and continue competing on the national stage.

As the crowd filed out of the Huntsman Center, one thing was clear: This Utah team left a mark on the program's storied history.

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