Tears streamed down Beth Launiere’s face, as she tried to gather her emotions at the podium.
For so long, Utah’s head volleyball coach has raved about her team’s chemistry.
With eight players either playing in their fifth or fourth year, the Utes knew any loss in the postseason could mean the end of their last ride.
And, on Saturday night, that reality came true. No. 4-seed Utah lost to No. 5 Marquette 3-2 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night.
“This group is leaving a legacy,” Launiere said. " We talked about that in the locker room after that it’s not about the winning. This group is leaving a legacy about how to be strong women in tough situations. They came in as young people, and they’re leaving as just incredibly, incredibly strong women.
“I just love this group, and it’s going to be hard to see them go, but they definitely are leaving a legacy.”
After falling down 2-0, the Utes rallied back to force a fifth set, only to be outscored 15-12 in the final period.
Both teams struggled to find offense during the night. The Utes hit well below their season average, notching 56 total kills on a .177% hitting average. Senior outside hitter Lauren Jardine finished with a team-high 17 spikes, six digs and one service ace.
With her collegiate career now over, she will pursue a career in the Pro Volleyball Federation after being drafted by the Las Vegas Thrill. Jardine spent three seasons with the Utes after transferring from Wisconsin in 2021.
“I came in a little late to the game,” Jardine said. “I didn’t have a great team experience (in the past), and that was my fault. And, so being able to come into a team and see how teams worked — communicating with your teammates and with your coaches and working relentlessly on and off the court and being able to see how much better I wanted to be for my teammates — I think that’s something that I hope the girls after will see and take in. I think that my career has been something I never thought I needed, but it was the most necessary thing possible.”
In the first set, Marquette took an early 15-14 advantage over the Utes, who committed four service errors. The Golden Eagles were, ultimately, able to take a 1-0 lead in the match after winning the first period 25-23 following back-to-back kills.
The Golden Eagles and Utes traded leads in the second set before Marquette scored on a Utah attack error and kill in the final moments. FoutsideMU took a 2-0 lead in the match with a decisive 25-22 win in the second period.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Head Coach, Beth Launiere gives instructions to her team, in volleyball action between Utah and BYU, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019.
Utah was able to win the third set 25-18, to shrink Marquette’s lead to a 2-1 advantage. The win was led, in part, by sophomore outside hitter Kamryn Gibadlo’s resurgence. She had a team-high five terminations on 10 total attempts.
Gibaldo also had one service ace and four receptions in the victory.
Marquette looked like it was on its way to victory after taking a 23-19 lead in the fourth set. The Utes rallied back to tie the match 2-2 with a 26-24 win, which was anchored by three consecutive kills from Jardine during the Utes' 7-1 run.
She had seven spikes during the entire quarter.
“I thought from start to finish, they played a strong match,” Utah’s head coach said. “It was an interesting match in terms of just the volleyball aspect of it. The first set, both teams hit over .400, and we felt like it was going to be a kind of an offensive match. But, it’s the (NCAA Tournament) and everyone’s going deep. I think both teams started digging the ball a lot and getting blocks. Then it ended up just being a massive defensive match.”
Utah’s late rally was stymied in the fifth and final set when Marquette scored on two kills and one attack error committed by the Utes.
That, ultimately, ended Utah’s season. The Utes finished with a 25-6 record, 14 wins in the conference and returned to the NCAA Tournament after missing out on a postseason bid in 2023.
“We liked the ability to prove people wrong,” Jardine said. “I think a lot of people, especially with our season last year, didn’t expect us to do very well.
“And as soon as we started in the offseason, continuing to play with each other and work hard in the gym, in the weight room, and making sure that we had our stuff put together, I feel like it set the tone for the rest of the season.”
