Oct. 20, 2009

Final Stats | Photo Gallery

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's volleyball team dropped a five-set match to Idaho here Monday night by scores of 26-24, 21-25, 26-24, 22-25, and 9-15 in a match that was televised nationally by ESPNU. USU falls to 12-9 overall and 3-5 in Western Athletic Conference play with the loss, while Idaho improves to 9-11 on the season and 5-3 in league play with the win.

Sophomore outside hitter Liz McArthur (St. George, Utah) led Utah State with 21 kills, while sophomore opposite side hitter Emily Kortsen (Hollister, Calif.) posted her fourth straight double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs. Junior libero Christine Morrill (Neola, Utah) led USU's defensive effort with a team-high 25 digs.

Sarah Conwell had a match-high 28 kills to pace Idaho, while Meredith Rice had a match-high 28 digs.

Idaho scored the first two points of the fifth set and never trailed as it coasted to the six-point win and the five-set win. The Vandals hit .385 (12-2-26) in the final set as compared to a .143 (5-1-28) hitting percentage for the Aggies.

Utah State finished the match with a .168 (61-28-196) hitting percentage and Idaho hit .202 (72-32-198). The Vandals dominated the net as it recorded 13.5 more team blocks (20.5-7.0), to go along with seven more digs (84-77) and one more service ace (3-2).

Utah State controlled the first set as it led by as many as four points en route to the two point win. McArthur had seven kills for the home team in the first set as USU hit .237 (16-7-38) and Idaho hit .188 (12-6-32).

Idaho bounced back to even the match at one set apiece as it hit .257 (15-6-35) in the second set, while USU hit .189 (13-6-37). In the third set, Utah State rallied from a 23-21 deficit to notch the 26-24 win despite nine kills from Conwell. USU hit .311 (.17-3-45) in the third set as compared to a .250 (19-7-48) hitting percentage for UI.

In the fourth set, Idaho scored the first three points and never trailed en route to the three-point win. UI hit just .053 (14-11-57) in the fourth set, but limited USU to a negative .021 (10-11-48) hitting percentage.

Utah State will return to action on Thursday, Oct. 22 when it continues WAC play at Boise State at 7 p.m.