Oct. 13, 2014 LOGAN, Utah - Utah State University women's volleyball will enter the home stretch of its first leg of Mountain West Conference play when the Aggies face Boise State on Tuesday night in Boise at 7 p.m. (MT). USU will be looking to extend a three-match winning streak against BSU when the teams take to the court in the Bronco Gym.
The Aggies are currently at 8-8 in 2014, including a 4-2 mark in the Mountain West. Utah State is riding a three-match winning streak and has won four of its last five matches.
Senior outside hitter
Rachel Orr leads USU and ranks fifth in the MW with 3.36 kills per set, adding a .175 hitting percentage (225-108-667), in addition to posting 2.91 digs and 0.66 blocks per set. Additionally, Orr is third in the league in points per set (3.94). She is also first in the MW in double-doubles with ten.
Senior middle
Kaitlyn VanHoff is second on the team and 19th in the MW in kills with 2.67 per set, posting a .327 attack percentage (160-51-388) which ranks eighth in the MW, while also ranking fourth in the league in blocks with 1.33 per set. VanHoff also is 10th in the MW in points per set (3.60).
Senior setter
Paige Neves distributes 9.72 assists per set to rank sixth in the MW, adding 2.52 digs and 0.70 blocks per set. Neves also leads the team with a .352 attack percentage (47-10-105) among players with 20 or more kills.
Junior opposite
Elle Brainard leads USU and the MW in blocking with 1.62 bps, adding 1.23 kills per set. Brainard has 78 total blocks (six solo, 72 assists), bolstered by 11 total blocks in the Oregon State match.
Boise State is currently 10-8 on the year, including a 3-3 record during Mountain West play. The Broncos have won their last two matches and seven of their last 10.
BSU is led by freshman outside hitter Sierra Nobley with 3.65 kills per set which is second in the Mountain West. Sophomore middle Maddy O'Donnell is the most efficient on the attack with a .402 attacking percentage (145-36-271) and currently stands fourth in the league and is third in the conference in service aces, averaging 0.36 per set. Junior setter Sarah Baugh directs the attack with 11.06 assists per set which ranks second in the MW. Sophomore Hannah Hubbard is fifth in the conference with 4.07 digs per set.
Head coach Shawn Garus is in his sixth season at the helm of the Boise State program and has compiled an overall record of 76-80 during that time.
The Aggies and Broncos have a 30-year history between the two teams, meeting for the first time in the 1983 season. USU is currently riding a three-match winning streak against Boise, but trails BSU, 18-17, in the all-time series.
Utah State volleyball season and single-match tickets are available by contacting the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum during its office hours 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305. Season tickets can also be purchased online at www.UtahStateAggies.com, the official website of USU Athletics and clicking on the "Ticket Office" tab.
Fans can also follow the Aggie volleyball program on twitter @USUVolleyball, on facebook at USUVolleyball or on instagram at @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at @USUAthletics, on facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on instagram at @USUAthletics.
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