Oct. 13, 2001

Final Stats

LOGAN, Utah - Behind a team-high 18 kills from senior outside hitter Lisa Borom (Las Vegas, Nev.), Utah State's women's volleyball team swept Cal State Northridge tonight by final scores of 30-27, 30-26, and 30-21 to improve to 9-4 on the season and 6-1 in league play. With the win, USU is off to its best start ever in the Big West Conference, bettering last year's 6-2 start to the league season. Northridge dropped to 9-8 overall and 3-5 in the conference with the loss.

"Anytime you can get a 3-0 win in this conference and against a team like Northridge is a good win," said first-year USU head coach Burt Fuller. "This was a close match and I was really impressed with the way they (CS Northridge) blocked, which forced us to make a few adjustments in the match."

Utah State and Cal State Northridge played even volleyball throughout the first game before USU closed the game with a 5-3 run. The Matadors jumped out to a decisive 15-7 lead in game two, but the Aggies responded with seven straight points to close the gap. Northridge maintained its lead until the score was tied at 23. Utah State then scored seven of the next 10 points to notch the win. USU built a quick five-point advantage in the third game at 8-3 and coasted to the 30-21 win, winning the match 3-0.

Individually for Utah State, senior setter Chelsi Neves (Otto, Wyo.) had an outstanding match with seven kills, 13 digs and 49 assists, as she hit .600 in the match. Along with her 18 kills, Borom added 10 digs and three blocks, while senior middle blocker Michelle Matheson had 11 kills, five digs, and two blocks.

Utah State hit .262 as a team and held Cal State Northridge to a .180 hitting percentage. USU also had eight more digs than the Matadors at 58-50.

Utah State will next be in action on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at No. 14 Brigham Young before traveling to Idaho on Friday, Oct. 19. USU's next home match will be on Thursday, Nov. 1 against Cal State Fullerton.