Oct. 19, 2012

LOGAN, Utah - For the first time in program history, Utah State volleyball will play at Seattle, Wash., when the Aggies take on Seattle on Saturday, Oct. 20. Match time is slated for an 8 p.m. (MT) start from SU's Connolly Center.

The Aggies have never played at Seattle nor University of Washington, which is located in Seattle, and USU will only be facing SU for just the third-ever meeting. If history repeats itself though, the teams are in for a five-set battle, as the Aggies faced the Redhawks on Sept. 20 this season in Logan with USU winning in five. Before this year, the only other match-up between the Aggies and Redhawks was in 2010 at the Arizona State Sheraton Classic, where USU also won in five sets.

Fans can follow Saturday's match with "live stats" and "watch live" links at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

Utah State is 14-7 overall and currently atop the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 9-2 league ledger, after rallying from a 2-1 set deficit at Idaho Thursday night to win in five sets. Thursday night was the Aggies' first road match since Sept. 29 after a five-match homestand but was their fifth-straight road win on the season, USU's longest road winning streak since 1982.

Seattle is 7-13 overall and 2-8 in WAC play after getting swept at home by San Jose State Thursday night, for the Redhawks' second-straight loss and seventh in their last eight matches.

USU leads the WAC in overall blocks per set (3.08) as well as conference only blocks per set (3.01). Redshirt-freshman middle blocker Elle Brainard (Saratoga Springs, Utah) leads USU's blocking attack, averaging 1.46 blocks per set, as well as third in WAC only matches (1.41 bps). Sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn VanHoff (Draper, Utah) is third in the league for blocks overall (1.36 bps) as well as fifth in league matches (1.32 bps). Senior opposite side hitter Shay Sorensen (North Ogden, Utah) is sixth in the WAC overall for kills per set and seventh in league only matches for kills per set (3.34). Brainard leads USU and is sixth in the WAC overall for hitting percentage (.316).

Sophomore setter Paige Neves (Otto, Wyo.) is third in the league for assists (10.17 per set) overall as well as second in conference action (10.68 per set). Fellow sophomore, libero Ashlan Rogers (Highland, Utah) is fourth in the WAC overall for digs per set (3.85) and third in league only matches (4.59 per set). Rogers also is fifth in the league overall for service aces (0.28 per set).

Seattle is led by senior outside hitter Kaytlyn Dill, who is fourth in the WAC overall for kills per set (3.85) and second in conference only matches kills per set with 4.21. Dill also leads the WAC overall for service aces with 0.41 per set (32 total), and second in league matches for service aces (0.42 per set, 18 total).

The Aggies return home to the friendly confines of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum to host UT Arlington on Thursday, Oct. 25 and Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Oct. 27. Both USU home matches start at 7 p.m.

Utah State will be continuing its "Dig for a Cure" campaign as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to help raise money for Logan Regional Hospital Foundation's Breast Cancer Services. Pledges are now being gathered for every dig the Aggies make during their seven home matches in October as part of USU's "Dig for a Cure" campaign. Pledges can be made in any amount and flat donations are also accepted and appreciated. Pledge and donation forms will be available at the matches at the marketing/promotions table on the west concourse of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. More information along with pledge/donation forms can be found here: http://bit.ly/RtaUKK.

The Utah State Campus Store is donating 20 percent of all pink merchandise sales during the month of October to Aggie volleyball's "Dig for a Cure" campaign and their selection can be found online here: http://campusstore.usu.edu/c-225-dig-for-the-cure.aspx.

Utah State volleyball tickets are available by contacting the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.

USU volleyball action can be followed live on the Internet with live stats available through the "GameTracker" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com. Aggie volleyball home matches are also streamed online by clicking on the "Watch Live" link at www.UtahStateAggies.com. There is a Utah State All-Access Monthly Subscription for $9.95 and a Utah State All-Access Yearly Subscription for $79.95.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program at twitter.com/USUVolleyball or on facebook at facebook.com/USUVolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at facebook.com/USUAthletics.