With the tension having reached an almost palpable level and the Utes staring at a potentially monumental momentum swing that they’d have been hard-pressed to overcome, senior outside hitter Adora Anae provided the rallying cry.
After winning the first two sets, Utah dropped the third by double digits and trailed 22-18 in the fourth when coach Beth Launiere called timeout. As the team broke its huddle, Anae screamed, “We’re still dancing.”
The Utes followed the lead of Anae, a four-year starter and the program’s all-time kills leader, as well as senior middle blocker Tawnee Luafalemana and senior outside hitter Carly Trueman on their way to a four-set win, 25-23, 25-19, 13-25 and 27-25 in the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament in front of an announced 2,077 in Jon M.