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Show orts MONDAY • SEPTEMBER 10 • 2007 First tournament brings first wins Jordan Smith Sports writer Mark Johnston/College Times Coming back from a five-game loss against Wyoming, Utah Valley traveled east to the Butler Tournament in Indiana and earned its first victories on its way to the tournament championship. The Wolverines defeated Tennessee Tech in five games, Northern Illinois in four games and swept the host team, Butler, in three games. "I thought that the girls executed very well, after a long day of nice matches, nine games in a row," Coach Sam Atoa said. "We challenged ourselves to play just a little bit better and to play at a different level than we had the day before and the girls came through and executed our game plan." On the first day of the tournament, Utah Valley faced Tennessee Tech and Northern Illinois back-toback. In five games, Utah Valley defeated Tennessee Tech (21-30, 30-25, 30-25, 28-30, 15-8). Then after the victory, the Wolverines had to turn around and face Northern Illinois. The Huskies were dispatched in five games (27-30, 30-24, 30-21, 3026). Jessica Endres led the charge with 20 kills and a .529 hitting percentage. The second day, the Wolverines played the home team Butler in the championship round. The first match was close going into the end. Utah Valley fell behind 31-32, but after two consecutive kills by Camie Manwill another kill by Kristin Anderson sealed the game 34-32. After the first game, all the wind left Butler's sails and Utah Valley took the match with two more game victories at 30-18 and 30-20. The offense for Utah Valley showed improvement in the Butler Tournament from the first game of the season against Wyoming. The Wolverines hit below .200 only three times throughout the duration of the tournament. "I think, sometimes, we've got a lot of new girls playing and starting for the first time it may have been after the first match; knowing what it was going to be like, they were able to settle down a little bit," Atoa said. "We did a lot of things better. Most everything that we have done has gotten a little bit better, and that's what you hope for anytime from the previous week, regardless if it's a win or a loss. " Utah Valley senior Jessica Endres was named tournament MVP. Against Northern Illinois Endres became the first Wolverine to score 1000 career kills. Along with Endres, Camie Manwill was named to the all-tournament team. Wolverine Nicole Archibald battles with SUU's Ashley Westphal during the season opener at UVSC. Overtime doesn't help decide winner Inside the game *In the 63rd minute, ju; nior Jenni Clough gave Utah : . Valley the lead when she scored from 15 yards out on a deflected corner kick. Season opener against Southern Utah ends 1-1 Matt Beaudin ?->.V *In the 76th minute, SUTTs :,'• Ashley Westphal assisted Laura Goodrich for the gamet . : .., tying goal. *s. •',-/•. * Neither team scored in •S-: the two overtimes i Up Next ; Sept. 14, at Wyoming Sports writer Following Utah Valley's 1-1 tie with Southern Utah last Friday, Head Coach Brent Anderson talked about the little things. "We're looking at the little improvements," he said. After playing a full 90-minute game and two overtime periods of 10 minutes each, Anderson talked about his team's improved fitness level. He also mentioned little things like the teams improvement offensively. The Wolverines combined for 14 shots in their two exhibition games but improved with 14 shots against the Thunderbirds. However, perhaps the biggest little thing he mentioned was the tenacious play of his two forwards Katey Turner and Jenni Clough. At 5 foot and 5-foot-3-inches respectively, they rely on skill and speed more than sheer physical prowess. Throughout Friday's game, the two UVSC standouts made runs and applied pressure to the SUU defense. Inside the'tournament . -: * The first day of the tournament, Utah Valley heat Tennessee Tech infivegames and Northern Illinois in four games' * Utah Valley heat Butler, the team which played host to the . tournament, in three games to win in the first tournament of the season. / •; Up next Sept. 14 and 15, at the Michigan/Nike Invitational in Ann Arhor, Michigan* See SOCCER. B7 Playoff bound Matt Beaudin Sports writer Mark Johnston/College Times Owlz outfielder Donato Giovanatto watches and waits as the rest of the team shelters in the dugout from freak weather during the team's regular-season finale. Amidst a literal whirlwind of events and thoughts of missing a golden opportunity to claim the last playoff spot, the Orem Owlz were awarded a win and a playoff spot Wednesday morning. In need of a win to clinch a playoff spot, the Orem Owlz were determined to finish what they had started after a long rain delay. To a crowd of 20 or so fans, the two teams took the field in an effort to finish the game. Suddenly, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the game ended for good when the power unexpectedly went out with the Owlz leading 5-2. The Owlz needed to finish with a win to secure a playoff birth, so Tuesday night, it looked as if the suspension would severely hurt the Owlz. After some discussion the game was suspend- ed with no make up date scheduled but Wednesday morning conversations between umpires, MLB Advanced Media' and both clubs the rain-shortened game was made official. Even if the Owlz had dropped all three games in a season-ending series against the Ogden Raptors, they still began a playofl; series Saturday against Idaho Falls. An RBI triple in the bottom of the second inning against the Chukars See OWLZ . 8 8 |