Utah Tech University saw multiple athletes have standout performances this past week — from fairways, at the net and across the court.
Women’s golf
The Trailblazers started their fall season off with a fourth-place finish at the Wolverine Invitational hosted by Utah Valley University, with 10 teams participating in the tournament.
Junior Samantha Phelan and sophomore Maria Purroy led the effort for the Trailblazers as they both tied for sixth place, shooting -4 and breaking the program record for a 54-hole score by one stroke. Phelan also tied the program records for 18-hole and 36-hole scores, highlighted by her seven birdies to start the tournament.
Utah Tech will continue their season as they compete in the Utah Fall Intercollegiate, hosted by Weber State University.
Men’s golf
Utah Tech finished in third place at Colorado State University’s Ram Masters Invitational to open the season, with 16 teams participating in the tournament. It marked the program’s second-best finish since the transition to Division I.
Senior Tanner Telford tied for fourth place as he shot m-3 217. Telford led the team with 15 birdies over the course of the tournament. Freshman David Liechty also had 13 birdies as he tied for 14th in his first collegiate tournament.
Utah Tech will look to build on their strong finish as they head to the Utah Wohali Invitational today.
Women’s volleyball
The Trailblazers went 2-1 in the Boise State Invitational as they lost 0-3 to Boise State University before beating both Idaho State University and San Francisco University 3-0.
In the match against Idaho State, Utah Tech bounced back from the loss to Boise State as they outhit the Bengals .227 to .067. Senior Kennedi Knudsen had 15 kills while fellow senior Taylor Snow also had nine kills and led the team with four service aces.
Utah Tech will stay on the road as they head to Colorado for the Into the Blue Invitational Sept. 19.
Men’s soccer
Utah Tech left the University of California, San Diego, with a 0-0 draw as senior goalkeeper Stockton Short and freshman Luca Campoli made key saves for the Trailblazers. Short made two saves in the 21st minute before being replaced by Campoli in the 26th minute due to injury. Campoli then made his first collegiate save in the 55th minute as the game remained scoreless.
Utah Tech now has a schedule of 1-2-3 as they prepare to face Loyola Marymount University Sept. 15.
Football
Utah Tech lost to Idaho University 6-20 as the Trailblazers were outgained in total yardage 247-405. It was Utah Tech’s third straight game versus a ranked opponent to start the season.
“I’m definitely happy with the progress that we’ve made as a program,” head coach Lance Anderson said prior to the game. “We are much more competitive, and I think our players truly realize now that we can play with these teams on our schedule and we can beat these teams.”
Redshirt junior kicker Ilya Uvaydov made a pair of field goals in the second and third quarters, both coming from over 50 yards to get Utah Tech on the board. Uvaydov made program history as he became the only placekicker to make two field goals from 50 yards and beyond in the same game.
Women’s tennis
Utah Tech opened their fall season at the Idaho State Fall Invitational as multiple players had success in their respective draws.
Senior Nicole Kells and freshman Cameron Hendrix won the Bengal draw while junior Olivia Bustos and sophomore Maya Inouye took second in the Black draw.
“It was an incredible opening weekend for UT Tennis,” head coach Eric Pelton said. “I’m so proud and impressed with the girls this weekend. They came out and worked hard all three days to pick up a lot of great wins and experience. What a great way to start off the fall season.”
The Trailblazers will return to action Oct. 7 at the ITA Mountain Regionals in Provo.
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