FRESNO, Calif. - Utah State women's volleyball kept Fresno State within striking distance throughout the afternoon, but suffered a three-set defeat against the Bulldogs on Saturday, 25-17, 25-23, 25-22, on the road. The loss drops the Aggies to 5-21 on the year and 1-11 in the Mountain West, while Fresno State moves to 13-12 and 5-6 with the win.

Fresno State opened the match with back-to-back points and never trailed, marking the only set that the home side found clear sailing. Utah State committed four service errors in the frame, derailing any kind of momentum for the Aggies as the Bulldogs closed out the frame 25-17 as part of a 4-1 punctuating run.

Fresno State matched its start from the first in the second, scoring the first two points, but Utah State was able to answer and tie the match at 4-4. The Bulldogs countered with back-to-back points, but the Aggies kept the margin within three and later tied the match again at 17-17. However, USU wasn't able to find the critical point to tip the match in its favor as Fresno State broke the tie with a three-point run and then withstood an Aggie comeback to take the set, 25-23.

Utah State had its best offensive showing during the second set, hitting .433 (15-2-30) while limiting its errors to just two. Fresno State was just a little better in the frame, hitting .500 (22-3-38) and overcoming two service errors and a ball handling error.

USU took its first lead of the match in the third set, 3-2, after putting together a three-point run. The Aggies continued to lead at 5-3 until Fresno State strung together three straight to take a 6-5 lead. The teams were only separated by as many as three points over the next rallies with Fresno State holding the advantage until a late push by Utah State tied the match at 19-19. The Bulldogs recaptured the lead with back-to-back points coming out of a timeout, 21-19, and then used another three-point run to take their first match point at 24-20. The Aggies extended the frame by way of a Fresno State error and a kill by sophomore middle Carly Lenzen, but ultimately fell, 25-22.

Junior outside Kaylie Kamalu and sophomore outside Rachel Gale led Utah State's attack with matching 11-kill performances, hitting .182 (11-5-33) and .242 (11-3-33), respectively. Sophomore right side Kayla DeCoursey was just behind with nine kills without committing an error, hitting .450 (9-0-20) while the Aggies hit .274 (39-10-106) as a team. Junior setter Erica Moscoso recorded all but four of the Aggies' assists, logging 31 during the match. Junior libero Hannah Gleason made her mark on the USU record books after recording 14 digs, bringing her total on the year to 397 and tying Laurel Bodily (2011) for No. 10 in a single season in USU history.

Fresno State was led offensively by junior outside Aleisha Coates and senior outside Zana Bowens with 14 and 11 kills, respectively, while the Bulldogs hit .358 (51-12-109) as a team. Junior setter Brooke Legaux and senior setter Jelena Jovanovic directed the attack with 23 and 18 assists, respectively. Junior libero Maggie Eppright led all players on the back row with 19 digs as the Bulldogs finished with 52 to Utah State's 41.

Utah State will conclude its three-match road trip at San José State on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Fans can purchase tickets for the 2015 season 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.

Fans can 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.

-USU-