LOGAN, Utah - Utah State volleyball will continue its 2017 season this week, hosting New Mexico on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Aggies will be looking for a season split with the Lobos after losing the first leg, 3-0, in Albuquerque, N.M., on September 30.

The loss to the Lobos snapped a three-match winning streak for the Aggies, its best start in conference play since the 2012 season. Senior outside Lauren Anderson led Utah State during the match with 15 kills, hitting a team-best .367 (15-4-30), but USU hit .172 (35-18-99) to New Mexico's .277 (43-15-101).

The match will pit two of the top hitters in the conference. Anderson is second in the Mountain West in both kills and points per set, averaging 3.97 and 4.55 per set, respectively. UNM sophomore outside hitter Lauren Twitty is just behind in third in both categories, averaging 3.78 kills and 4.28 points per set.

The duo is also leading their respective teams overall, as Anderson has totaled 314 total kills on a team-best 808 attempts, hitting .251 (314-111-808) on the year. She is followed by senior opposite Kayla DeCoursey with 212 kills, averaging 2.68 per set and hitting .254 (212-65-578), best among outsides for the Aggies. Junior setter Kassidy Johnson directs the Utah State attack with a team-best 10.43 assists per set, second in the Mountain West, as the Aggies hit .209 (994-408-2,799) overall. Defensively, junior libero Tasia Taylor is second in the Mountain West with 4.75 digs per set, totaling 375 on the year.

On New Mexico's side, redshirt senior libero Ashley Kelsey leads the UNM back row with 334 digs, averaging 4.07 per set. Redshirt junior middle Victoria Spragg leads the New Mexico block, totaling 83.0 on the year and averaging 1.01 per set.

Offensively, Twitty has totaled 306 kills on a team-best 897 attempts, hitting .188 (306-137-897). She is followed by a pair of hitters averaging more than two kills per set in redshirt junior middle Mariessa Carrasco and Spragg with 2.29 and 2.00 kills per set, respectively. Junior setter Carson Heilborn has directed the attack for most of the year, averaging 9.48 assists per set while the Lobos have hit .209 (1,008-412-2,852). However, freshman Sarah Lobo has started each of the past two matches, recording 43 and 46 assists as New Mexico lost at home to Wyoming, 3-1, and to Colorado State, 3-2.

The losses are part of a three-match losing streak for the Lobos, as New Mexico has lost six of its last seven since its 3-0 victory over Utah State in Albuquerque.

Fans can follow the match on Thursday night via live stat and live video links online at www.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 also follow the Utah State athletic program at @USUAthletics, on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on Instagram at @USUAthletics.

-USU-