Dec. 2, 2005

Final Stats

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Erin Graybill led Utah State with 12 kills and hit .269, but it wasn't enough as the Aggies lost to sixth-ranked Arizona in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Volleyball Tournament in three games (26-30, 27-30, 20-30) here Friday night.

With the loss, Utah State ends its season with a 21-13 record, while Arizona improves to 23-5 with the win and advances to the second round.

In game one, Utah State fell behind 10-4 early and was never able to get closer than three points as it lost the game 30-26. Graybill led USU with four kills as the Aggies hit .235 in the game as compared to a .351 hitting percentage for Arizona.

In game two, Utah State fell behind 5-0 and trailed 10-4 before scoring 11 of the next 16 points to tie the score at 15. Arizona regained its moment with the score tied at 17 by scoring four straight points to take a 21-17 advantage, only to see USU get back to within one at 23-22. The Wildcats then scored three straight points and went on to notch the 30-27 win. In the second game, Graybill and Beth Hodge each had four kills for Utah State as it hit .128, while Arizona hit .270.

In the third and final game, Arizona scored the first three points and extended to a 20-10 led mid-way through the game. USU closed to within six at 23-16 but could get no closer at it lost 30-20. Once again, Graybill led the Aggies with four kills as USU hit .029 in the game, while the Wildcats hit .414.

Hodge finished with nine kills for Utah State, while Carolyn Forbush and Ingrid Roth each had six.

Kristina Baum led Arizona with 13 kills, while Jennifer Abernathy added 11 kills and 10 digs.

Utah State hit .130 in the match as compared to a .340 hitting percentage for Arizona. The Wildcats also recorded nine more kills (51-42), 10 more team blocks (15-5), and three more digs (37-34) in the match, while committing 12 fewer hitting errors (28-16).

#6 Arizona 3, Utah State 0USU                26        27        20UA                 30        30        30