This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Football and men's basketball have had their time in the sun (or artificial lights) this week.
Utah's most impressive performances came from its previously reeling volleyball team, which treated loyal fans to straight-sets demolitions of the No. 15 Bruins and the No. 19 Trojans.
Utah's win against USC, on Friday night, was its first since 1986 and snapped a six-match Pac-12 losing skid.
Sunday's win over the Bruins gave the hosts their first back-to-back wins against ranked teams since 2007.
"I think we are a good team, and we have been saying that all along," said head coach Beth Launiere in a release. "… We had our fans behind us and we had a good week of practice as well. When you have these things in place, good things happen."
Senior Chelsey Schofield-Olsen led the Utes with 12 kills in the first contest, and freshman Eliza Katoa totaled 11 in the second.
At 14-11 and 4-10 in conference, Utah faces another stern test this Sunday in the No. 3 Huskies, concluding a busy weekend at the newly renovated Huntsman Center — four events in three days.
FOOTBALL • The Utes were going to get their share of national attention, regardless, playing the nation's No. 5 team under the lights. But much of that attention has fallen on a single play from a single guy — senior wideout Kaelin Clay — who is a big part of the reason the Utes are bowl eligible nine weeks into the season. Alas, it's been negative attention. Utah lost 51-27 Saturday night, but missed the opportunity to take a 14-0 lead when Clay dropped the ball at the 1-yard line in his haste to celebrate, and the Ducks returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. Utah clawed its way back into the game, but the Ducks' ground attack wore them down late, and Oregon remained a heavy favorite to win the Pac-12 and play in the first-ever College Football Playoff.
Our coverage (or that which is not now totally outdated):
• Utah didn't come away empty-handed — scoring a 4-star CB commit
• Ilaisa Tuiaki — Ogre 6, in MMA — teaches combat skills to D-line
ON DECK • at Stanford, 4 p.m. MT on Saturday in Palo Alto, Calif.
MEN'S BASKETBALL • Also No. 25, the Runnin' Utes pummeled Pacific in an exhibition game late Thursday night, showing off their youth, versatility and newly installed motion offense. Afterward, Larry Krystkowiak cautioned against reading to much into his initial starting lineup — which featured Jakob Poeltl and Chris Reyes as Utah's big man rotation remains in flux. Earlier in the week, The Tribune took a closer look at the motion offense, and how it came about. Friday night against Ball State, it begins to count.
ON DECK • vs. Ball State, 8 p.m. Friday at the Huntsman Center
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL • In contrast to the men's team, the women were glad their exhibition opener didn't count in the standings. A 67-61 loss to Alaska-Anchorage is not the tune-up the Utes were looking for at the Huntsman Center on Sunday night. Sophomore Malia Nawahine led Utah with 15 points, adding seven rebounds and two assists, and sophomore Paige Crozon (eight points, eight boards) and senior Taryn Wicijowski (four points, six assists, nine rebounds) returned to the fold after missing last season due to injury.
ON DECK • vs. San Jose State, 5 p.m. Friday at the Huntsman Center
WOMEN'S SOCCER • Utah's season came to an end at 8-8-4 after it started 7-0-3. The finale, a 2-0 loss at Colorado on Friday. Head coach Rich Manning said afterward, in a release, "This team fought to the end and always gave it their best shot. We're sad to see the seniors leave, but they made a huge impact on this team and its transition to the Pac-12."
ON DECK • Season over
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL • See above.
ON DECK • vs. Washington State, 8 p.m. Thursday at the Huntsman Center; vs. No. 2 Washington, 7 p.m. Saturday at the Huntsman Center
WOMEN'S CROSS-COUNTRY • Utah did not compete this week.
ON DECK • NCAA Cross Country Regional Championships, Nov. 14, Albuquerque, N.M.
SWIMMING AND DIVING • Utah's men's swimming and diving team moved to 6-0 with a 179-101 dual meet win over Colorado Mesa on Friday, getting two first-place finishes apiece from junior Bence Kiraly, freshman Ben Scott and junior Jacob Crayne. Still, head coach Joe Dykstra said in a release that he was less than pleased with the showing. "It was sloppy across the boards. We had some individual bright spots. But overall, I am disappointed with the lack of focus and lack of execution today."
ON DECK • Georgia Tech Invitational (diving only), Nov. 21-23 in Atlanta, Ga.
MEN'S GOLF • The Utes took 13th at the Warrior Princeville Makai Invitational in Princeville, Hawaii, led by junior Jose Pelayo's 21st-place three day total of 211.
ON DECK • Fall season over
WOMEN'S TENNIS • The Utes won six times over the three-day Brown Classic in Providence, R.I.
ON DECK • ITA National Indoor Championships, Nov. 13-16 in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
MEN'S TENNIS • As of Sunday night, Utah had not published results from the ITA Nationals in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
ON DECK • Fall season over
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper