Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Utah State women's volleyball fought off set points in each game, but ultimately fell in three sets at New Mexico on Wednesday night, suffering a 25-18, 27-25, 25-21 defeat. The loss drops the Aggies to 6-24 overall and 2-14 in the Mountain West, while the Lobos move to 16-13 and 9-7 in league play.

Utah State jumped out to a quick lead in the first set, scoring the opening three points behind kills by sophomore right side Kayla DeCoursey and junior outside Kaylie Kamalu. Kamalu also had her hands in on a block, joining sophomore middle Carly Lenzen for the second point in the run. New Mexico matched the start with three straight points of its own, tying the match at 3-3. The teams then fought through five more ties through the set until the Lobos broke an 11-11 deadlock with a 9-3 run, taking a 20-14 lead. UNM had its first set point at 24-17, but freshman middle Lauren O'Brien extended the set with a kill, 24-18. However, the Lobos were able to close out the first set with a kill, taking it, 25-18.

New Mexico took an early 7-2 lead in the second set, but it was countered by a 7-1 Aggie run to give the visitors a 9-8 lead. The Lobos ended the run with three straight points, taking an 11-9 lead and held onto the advantage until Utah State was able to come back and tie the set at 15-15. New Mexico broke the tie with another run, putting together a 5-0 push to take a 20-15 lead. Utah State, once again, found an offensive groove and put together a 7-0 run to take a 22-20 advantage. The teams then traded the lead over the next two rallies as UNM went ahead 23-22 only to have the Aggies answer and take a set point at 24-23. Utah State had a second set point at 25-24 behind a block by Lenzen and sophomore outside Rachel Gale, but couldn't capture the last rally to pull out the win as the Lobos finished the set with a 3-0 run to go up 2-0 with the 27-25 victory.

Utah State scored the opening points of the second set as Lenzen began the frame with a kill. The Aggies then made the most of four New Mexico errors to take a 7-2 lead, but the margin was erased by a Lobo run, tying the match at 10-10. The teams then battled through four lead changes and seven ties, culminating at the 18-18 mark in the set. New Mexico then scored two points in succession to create a 20-18 cushion and later took its first match point at 24-20. Gale prolonged the set for the Aggies with her 13th kill of the match, but it was matched by a punctuating kill by the Lobos, giving the hosts the 25-21 victory.

Gale led the Aggies with her 13 kills, followed by Lenzen with nine while hitting a team-best .500 (9-2-14). Overall, Utah State hit .094 (35-23-128) during the match with the Lobos hitting .202 (46-21-124). Junior outside Cassie House paced the UNM attacked with 14 kills.

Defensively, junior libero Hannah Gleason led the Aggies with 18 digs, mirroring New Mexico's Ashley Kelsey with 18 for the match high. New Mexico led Utah State in both digs and blocks during the night, holding a 55-50 advantage in digs and a 12.0 to 7.0 advantage in blocks.

Utah State will host its 2015 home finale against Air Force on Saturday at 7 p.m., and then punctuate the 2015 campaign at Boise State on Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Fans can purchase tickets for the 2015 season finale 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-