Ogden, Utah - UC Riverside closed out the Weber State Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Gym with a 3-1 win over Southern Utah. 

Three Highlanders reached double-digit kills as Nicky Cannon picked up her first win as head coach of the program.  

Saturday's tournament finale opened up with a more favorable tempo after two back-and-forth matches on Friday's opening day. UC Riverside jumped out to an early 7-2 lead that forced a Southern Utah timeout, and Isabella Scarlett's role in the early surge was a main cause for timeout. Scarlett picked up two kills, a dig and a block prior to SUU calling for a breather. 

UCR kept its foot on the pedal for a wire-to-wire 25-12 win in set one before a more evenly-matched second set went to Southern Utah following scoring runs from each side.

Scarlett and Mylei Vargas-Deason reached 20 kills between the two of them in a second set that saw UCR go on a 10-4 run to storm ahead for a 23-13 lead. The Highlanders ultimately ended set three on a 13-2 run for the 25-13 set win and a 2-1 match lead. 

UCR had Southern Utah on the ropes in the fourth set and the Thunderbirds responded with another fight similar to that of set two, but recharged out of a Southern Utah timeout, a kill from Scarlett began the offensive surge that led to 19-13 Highlander lead. UC Riverside finished off the match for its first win of the season. 

Delaney Tate joined Scarlett and Vargas-Deason with double-digit kills, and Tayler Hifo added 42 assists and nine digs. 

UCR will make another stop on the season-opening road trip when the Highlanders play at the Molly Howard Memorial Tournament in Houston, starting on September 2. UC Riverside will open with tournament host Houston Baptist before taking on Louisiana Monroe and Bethune-Cookman.