Alyssa D'Errico's First Look: Utah Volleyball Takes 3 of 4 From Weber State

Utah volleyball gave its fans a first look at the Alyssa D'Errico era on Saturday, August 15, taking three of four sets from Weber State in an exhibition at the Huntsman Center. The Utes won the first, second and fourth sets 25-16, 25-19 and 25-17 and dropped the third 20-25, opening the D'Errico tenure with the kind of controlled, system-first performance the first-year head coach said she was looking for.

Exhibitions do not count, so the scoreline matters less than what showed up on the floor. By D'Errico's own accounting, Utah served aggressively — eight or nine aces across four sets — and hit its offensive target, reaching 15 kills per set after setting out to average 14. The Utes' dig percentage and the Wildcats' opponent kill percentage both landed where the staff wanted them. For a first scrimmage under a new coach, that is a clean set of boxes to check.

A balanced attack, distributed by two setters

The most encouraging theme was balance. D'Errico said both setters distributed the offense well, and the production spread across the front row rather than funneling to one hitter. Veteran leadership carried the night: setter Isabelle Marco ran the offense, and outside hitters Devyn Wiest, Levani Falatea and Kamryn Gibadlo all posted good numbers. A few newcomers also announced themselves — setter Isabella Mogridge, opposite hitter Loryn Helgesen and libero Sierra Grizzle each showed up in D'Errico's postmatch notes.

D'Errico called the attack "really balanced," and she tied it directly to the work behind it: passing and defense that kept Utah in system and let the setters move the ball around. That is the sequence a new staff wants to see first — serve-receive and defense creating clean touches, then two setters trusted to spread the offense. In an exhibition, process reads louder than points, and the process looked like the plan.

Four returns from injury, and a freshman's first kill

The night's most memorable moments were personal. Utah welcomed back four players from injury — Wiest, Ashley West, Olga Musial and freshman Suttyn Harris — each returning to the court in the exhibition. Harris, a newcomer working back from an injury, was visibly emotional after her first collegiate kill at the Huntsman Center, celebrating through tears. D'Errico singled out West's leadership during the layoff and said she was thrilled to have the group whole again.

Those returns matter beyond the sentiment. A first-year coach installing a new system needs her experienced pieces available, and getting four of them back on the floor in the opener gives D'Errico a fuller picture of her rotation than a depleted exhibition would have. It also gives the returning players live reps before the results start counting.

The bigger picture: a new staff in a Big 12 season

D'Errico's debut arrives with modest external expectations. Utah was picked middle-of-the-pack in the Big 12 preseason coaches' poll, and the Utes' 2026 schedule already carries a marquee marker — an ESPN-televised match against UCLA at the Huntsman Center. The exhibition crowd was a theme of its own: D'Errico thanked the fans who filled the Huntsman and made growing that attendance a stated goal for the season, encouraging supporters to bring a friend or two each time they return.

None of that is settled in August. But a well-attended exhibition, a balanced offense and a healthy return of veterans is close to the ideal opening chapter for a coach trying to build both a team and a following at the same time.

What D'Errico wants to fix before it counts

The self-scouting was pointed. D'Errico said Utah needs more physicality in its shot selection, noting that Weber State's blocking lined the Utes up well and produced more attack errors than she wanted. Her fix is technical: her attackers need to see the block, play off it, and cover behind it so the offense has a safety net when a swing gets stuffed.

There is time to work on it. Utah has one more exhibition — on the road against Oregon in Eugene on Friday, August 21 — before it opens the preseason schedule at the Utah Valley Tournament in Orem. The Ducks trip is the next checkpoint; the D'Errico era officially begins in earnest shortly after.

Key facts:

• Result: Utah def. Weber State 3-1 (exhibition) — 25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 25-17
• Date / site: Saturday, August 15, 2026, Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City
• Occasion: First-year head coach Alyssa D'Errico's debut behind the Utah bench
• Serving / offense: Eight or nine aces in four sets; 15 kills per set
• Standouts: Veterans Isabelle Marco, Devyn Wiest, Levani Falatea and Kamryn Gibadlo; newcomers Isabella Mogridge, Loryn Helgesen and Sierra Grizzle
• Injury returns: Devyn Wiest, Ashley West, Olga Musial and freshman Suttyn Harris, who was teary-eyed after her first kill
• Next: Exhibition at Oregon, Friday, August 21, 2026, in Eugene, before the Utah Valley Tournament in Orem