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CLEMSON, S.C. - Utah outside hitter Kathryn Haynie posted a team-high 11 kills as the national 12th seed University of Utah volleyball team earned its second NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in school history with a 3-0 win (25-21, 26-24, 21) against Clemson Saturday in Jervey Gym.
Utah (26-5) has won 11 consecutive matches and 19 of its last 20 overall. The Utes are 12-4 away from Crimson Court and have won nine consecutive sets overall.
Haynie hit her 14 kills on just 19 swings for a career-high .632 hitting percentage. The North Salt Lake City, Utah native notched her 20th career double-double performance and her eighth of this season with 11 digs.
Two other Utes hit double figures in kills with Emillie Toone totaling 12 on just 22 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage. Lori Baird totaled 10 kills with four errors on 24 attempts for a .250 hitting percentage. Baird also came up with a match-high five service aces.
Utah was outblocked 14-6 in the match, but outhit the Tigers .207 to .145. The Ute attack was set up by 21 assists from Stephanie Shardlow and 14 assists from Abby Simmons.
The Utes are 10-9 in 19 all-time NCAA Tournament matches. Utah has qualified for the tournament in 10 of the last 11 years.
Utah is 21-0 after winning the first set of a match this season and are now 16-0 when taking the first two sets.
The Utes take on fifth-seeded Washington in the Seattle Regional final Friday, Dec. 12 in Seattle, Wash. The Huskies are 26-5 this season and earned a pair of 3-0 sweeps in the first two rounds of the tournament over Portland State and Santa Clara.
