Utah celebrates after advancing to the MWC Championship match for the fifth time in school history.

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#3 Utah Moves Into Championship Match With Sweep

The Utes defeat #2 Colorado State in semifinal action.

Nov. 25, 2005

LAS VEGAS -

Final Boxscore in PDF Format
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For the Utah-Colorado State Photo Gallery, click here

In the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championship semifinals in Las Vegas, the #3 seed Utah Utes (21-8) upset the #2 seed Colorado State Rams (20-8), 3-0. The 30-26, 30-23, 31-29 victory propels the Utes into their fifth championship game appearance in as many years. The Utes will face the winner of the other semifinal match between the top-seed BYU Cougars and the #4 seed UNLV Rebels on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the Cox Pavilion.

In the match, Utah tallied nine less kills than CSU (43 to 50), but held a higher hitting percentage at .226 to .205. The Utes never hit more than seven errors in any game, while the Rams gradually increased theirs in each game (7-8-10). Utah hit for 13 kills in games one and 15 each in games two and three. CSU increased its kill tally in each game as they went from 15 to 17 to 20. One statistic that stuck out from the box score was the Rams service errors. CSU had 14 serves hit long or into the net.

Utah received 13 kills from Shelly Sommerfeldt and 11 from Airial Salvo. Emillie Toone registered the match's highest hitting percentage (.636) with her eight kills and one error in 11 attempts. Toone added 10 blocks (all unassited) to her numbers. Shannon Krug assisted on 37 kills and dug out six Ram attacks. Danielle Leichliter had a team-high 14 digs in the win.

CSU's Tess Rogers led all attackers with 17 kills in the match. Tonya Mokelki rounded out the Ram attackers in double-digits with her 12. Ashley Fornstrom assisted on a match-high 46 kills, while Katherine Whitney's 20 digs were a match-high, as well.

No. 2 Colorado State vs. No. 3 Utah Match Notes:
Utah advanced to the championship match of the MWC Tournament for the fifth straight year with its win over Colorado State tonight. The Utes are 2-2 all-time in MWC championship matches.

The Utes defeated the Rams, 3-0, marking the first time ever that CSU has been swept in MWC Championship competition. Colorado State now holds a 13-4 all-time record in the MWC Tournament, with two of those losses coming against Utah.

Colorado State's Tess Rogers played in her 121st career match which moved her into a tie for fourth place (w/ Utah's Jackie Morrill, 2000-03) on the MWC career charts. Rogers also moved up on the all-time conference list for matches started tonight. She finishes her career at CSU with 111 matches started which ties for third place with former Wyoming player Sara Maytorena (2001-04).

Utah's Shelly Sommerfeldt started in her 95th career match which ranks her in a tie for 15th on the conference career charts in that category. Sommerfeldt is tied with former UNLV setter Nicki King (2001-04). Sommerfeldt also currently sits in sixth place on the MWC career matches played list at 119, surpassing former San Diego State player Nicole Akporiaye.