Box Score

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Utah State women's volleyball lost its first four-set match of the season on Thursday night, taking the first set from Wyoming, but ultimately losing in four, 20-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-23. The defeat puts the Aggies at 10-12 on the year and 5-6 in the Mountain West, while the Cowgirls moved to 15-9 and 8-3 in league play with the victory.

Utah State was led offensively by junior outside Lauren Anderson for the fourth consecutive match, tallying 14 kills. She was followed closely by junior opposite Kayla DeCoursey with 13, hitting a team-best .357 (13-3-28). Senior setter Erica Moscoso narrowly missed a double-double with 46 assists and nine digs as the Aggies hit .216 (50-21-134) during the match.

Utah State's defense kept the contest close and gave the Aggies chances in transition as senior libero Hannah Gleason and sophomore defensive specialist Tasia Taylor led the USU back row with 13 digs apiece. Taylor's total tied a career high and Gleason's total marked the sixth consecutive match that she has recorded double-digit digs.

Utah State's block was also strong as junior middle Carly Lenzen matched a career high with three solo blocks and DeCoursey recorded a career-high six block assists. The totals gave the Aggies 11.0 blocks for the match, ahead of Wyoming's 9.0.

Utah State got off to a strong start in the first set, hitting a match-high .367 (14-3-30), and used a 7-1 run to break a 15-15 tie to take a 22-16 lead. The 15-15 deadlock was one of 11 ties during the game, but the run gave the Aggies the needed cushion and a final kill by senior outside Kaylie Kamalu-Smith gave Utah State the 25-20 victory.

Wyoming came back in the second set and scored six unanswered points to break a 3-3 tie and take a 9-3 lead. The push kept the Cowgirls ahead throughout the game and Wyoming tied the match at 1-1 with the 25-14 finish.

Utah State opened the third set with back-to-back kills by DeCoursey but the start was countered by three straight points by Wyoming. The Aggies ended the run via a solo block by Lenzen, but Wyoming came right back with a three-point run to take a 6-3 lead. Utah State chipped away and came back to within one, 8-7, but the Cowgirls countered with a four-point run to take a 12-7 lead. That scenario played out two more times over the course of the game as Utah State came back to within one, only to have the home side counter with another run. USU was within one at 21-20, but a four-point run by Wyoming wrapped up the set, 25-20.

Utah State went into the fourth, having never lost a four-set match this season and carrying a perfect 6-0 mark. The game was back-and-forth as the teams fought through 12 ties and seven lead changes, culminating in a 22-22 deadlock late in the set. Wyoming then scored back-to-back points, securing a match point at 24-22, but a kill by Anderson pulled the Aggies to within one, 24-23. However, a final kill by Wyoming on the next rally gave the Cowgirls the match, 25-23.

Wyoming finished the match hitting .231 (58-25-143) and were led by four attackers with double-digit kills in Laura Beach with 13, Kayla Slofkiss and Emily Lewis with 12 each and Reed Copeland with 11.

Utah State will be back in action on Saturday when the Aggies travel to Colorado State for a match at 1 p.m. (MT).

Fans can follow the match on Saturday afternoon via live stat and video links online at utahstateaggies.com. Fans can also follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at USUVolleyball or on Instagram at @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program at @USUAthletics, on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on Instagram at @USUAthletics.

-USU-