Box Score

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Utah State women's volleyball lost a four-set decision at Air Force on Thursday night, moving to 12-8 overall on the year and 4-4 in league play.

The Aggies were led offensively by senior outside Lauren Anderson with 21 kills, hitting .333 (21-7-42) as USU hit .116 (44-29-129) as a team. Air Force was led by a pair of double-digit attackers in junior middle Abigail Miksch and sophomore outside Denise Ssozi with 18 and 14 kills, respectively. The duo combined to hit .295 (32-11-71) as the Falcons hit .237 (54-23-131) overall as a team.

Junior libero Tasia Taylor led both teams with a match-high 12 digs and freshman middle Bailey Downing led the Utah State block with a career-high-tying seven blocks. Air Force was led by junior libero Sarah Hellman with 10 digs and freshman middle Kathleen Medill with a match-high nine blocks. Also of note, USU senior opposite Kayla DeCoursey recorded a career-high three service aces during the match.

Utah State built a 16-10 lead in the first set, the largest lead for either team during the opening frame, but Air Force countered and tied the set at 17-17. The teams then played through five more ties until a kill by Air Force gave the Falcons set point at 24-23. Downing and DeCoursey combined for a block on the next rally, fighting off match point and squaring the set at 24-24, but back-to-back errors by the Aggies gave Air Force the set, 26-24.

The teams played through eight ties in the second set, culminating in a 20-20 deadlock late in the set. The Falcons closed out the frame with a 5-1 run and took a 2-0 lead with a 25-21 victory. The Aggies were able to extend the set after fighting off AFA's first set point at 24-20 with a kill by junior middle Lauren O'Brien, but ultimately lost the set.

The Aggies showed some grit in the third set as they trailed midway through the set and then were behind when Air Force captured set point at 24-21. Utah State closed out the set with five consecutive points, highlighted by blocks by O'Brien and freshman outside Ashlee Thornock to push the match to four sets with the 26-24 victory.

USU wasn't able to carry the momentum over into the fourth set, trailing start-to-finish as Air Force hit .333 (14-5-27), their best performance of the night, to Utah State's .036 (8-7-28) en route to the 25-17 finish.

USU remains on the road for its upcoming matches and opens the second half of conference play with contests at Fresno State and San Diego State on Thursday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 21, respectively.

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.

-USU-