Jensen comes to Cedar City as a proven program builder following a decade-long stint at Utah State University Eastern, where she served as the head volleyball coach and Assistant Athletic Director for External Operations.

In 10 years at the Price, Utah, two-year college, Jensen compiled a 190-88 record, leading the Eagles to three appearances in the NJCAA Tournament (Spring 2021, 2022, 2024).

The Eagles appeared in the national rankings every season but her first in charge, finishing the season as high as No. 4 when they reached their first national tournament in school history during the Spring 2021 campaign.

Jensen also led USU Eastern to to the first Scenic West Athletic Conference title in program history during the Fall 2021 season, before winning the SWAC, Region 18, and Rocky Mountain District titles in 2024.

A two-time SWAC Coach of the Year and the 2021 AVCA Western Region Coach of the Year, Jensen brings great experience to an SUU team looking to build off a WAC Tournament appearance in 2024.

Jensen replaces Kacey Nady, who abruptly resigned after four seasons leading the T-birds volleyball program on June 9.

The Thunderbirds will begin the 2025 campaign on Friday, Aug. 29 at 12:30 p.m., facing Big West Conference member UC Irvine in the Wildcat Invitational at Weber State in Ogden, Utah.

Following three matches at the tournament, Southern Utah will open the home portion of the schedule with a matchup against UC Riverside on Thursday, Sep. 4 at 6:30 p.m.

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Nady took over the program in 2021, guiding the program through a transition from the Big Sky Conference to the Western Athletic Conference.

Nady led the T-birds to a 10-18 record and a WAC Tournament berth in 2024. SUU also reached the conference tournament in 2022.

The post Southern Utah volleyball: Head coach Kacey Nady resigns appeared first on Southern Utah Game Day.

McMurphy’s report included an unnamed source, who stated the department is “Toxic. Absolutely toxic.”

A source in a story that ran on KSL.com added that the entire department is under review after an incident that involved one sport and led to several other issues. 

The report emerged Friday morning, but did not include specific details. When reached for comment, a university spokesperson responded, “Southern Utah University takes all reports seriously and has standard policies and processes in place in order to provide an appropriate review of allegations.

“SUU strives to foster a caring campus community supportive of the dignity of its students and employees. The University does not comment on the specifics of ongoing reviews or individual personnel matters.”

Southern Utah Athletic Director Doug Knuth responded to McMurphy’s report on his personal X account, saying, “Brett is a good reporter but this is wrong.”

Knuth was hired as the athletic director at SUU in December 2022, following nearly a decade-long run in the same position at the University of Nevada-Reno. 

This is not the first time Knuth has been involved in a Title IX investigation. During his time in Reno, he was a central figure in four separate investigations that USA Today reported on.

That investigation cited interviews with more than two dozen current or former UNR athletes and employees, while also including thousands of pages of emails and other documents that alleged inequities in men’s and women’s sports facilities, meals and travel, equipment, publicity, equipment, and access to requisite medical treatment. 

Also found in the investigation were reports of disparaging comments made about pregnant women, along with allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an assistant cheer coach at the school.

The investigation began in 2019, and although Knuth was not found to have broken any school rules, he was fired in April 2022 with 14 months remaining on his contract. 

Per a report at the time from Nevada Sports Net, Knuth’s firing was driven largely by the Title IX issues.

Southern Utah also hired Marie Tuite as deputy athletic director for external relations and chief operating officer in March 2023, following her resignation from San Jose State. At SJSU, Tuite was a central figure in a number of investigations and lawsuits. 

At San Jose State, Tuite was accused of harboring a serial sexual abuser – the school’s former head athletic trainer – while retaliating against employees who raised complaints. 

Multiple members of the SUU athletic department were contacted for this story, but declined to comment.

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Here are recaps of all three games, beginning with Friday’s doubleheader.

Game 1 – Friday

Despite running out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the T-birds would eventually drop the first game of the series on Friday afternoon at GCU, 6-3.

Amyah Boostedt highlighted the opening frame with a two-run RBI single, but the Lopes responded with a four-run bottom of the inning to make it a 4-3 score.

Southern Utah was unable to make it a closer contest the rest of the way, even with runners reaching base in four of the final six innings.

GCU would add two more runs in the sixth, sealing the opening game victory, 6-3.

Game 2 – Friday (DH)

After the SUU offense failed to score a run in the final six frames of game one, the drought continued in the second matchup of the day, with the Lopes securing a 4-0 shutout win.

The Thunderbirds were only able to muster a pair of hits and five total baserunners, while Grand Canyon tallied a run in four separate innings to secure the series victory.

Game 3 – Saturday

SUU would take an early 1-0 lead in Saturday’s series finale, courtesy of an RBI single off the bat of Tawnie Mozeris in the top of the second inning.

The slim advantage was short-lived, however, as the Lopes answered with six runs in the bottom of the frame to take a five-run lead.

Grand Canyon added two more runs in the third to make it an 8-1 score, but Southern Utah was able to get a trio of runs back in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to 8-4.

Once again, any chance at momentum was quickly ruined, as the Lopes made it a 13-4 ballgame with a five-run home half of the fourth.

The deficit was too much to overcome, as SUU was held scoreless in the final frame as Grand Canyon notched the series sweep.

With the series defeat at GCU, the T-birds now sport a 9-22 record, including 4-8 in WAC play.

Up next

Southern Utah (9-22, 4-8 WAC) returns to Cedar City to battle in-state foe Utah Tech for a three-game series.

The series is slated to begin with a doubleheader on Friday, April 11, with first pitch for game one set at 1 p.m. MT.

All three games of the rivalry WAC series can be seen on ESPN+.

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