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Utah State will continue its longest homestand of the season and begin the second half of its Mountain West slate this week, hosting San José State on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m., and Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m.
Scouting the Spartans
San José State enters the match with an overall mark of 9-10, including an 4-6 ledger in league play, and having won three of its last four matches.
SJSU is hitting .190 (897-435-2,426) this season and is led individually by sophomore outside Latahevai Lousi with 3.11 kills per set, while junior outside Fernanda Vida has totaled a team-best 192. Junior middle Thaliana Grajeda is the most efficient hitter for the Spartans, hitting .332 (136-40-289) to rank sixth in the MW. Freshman Mamie Garard and junior Kaitlynn Zdroik have shared the setting duties, averaging 6.23 and 4.72 assists per set, respectively. San José State is one of the best teams in the Mountain West behind the service line, ranking third in the league with 1.59 aces per set. Senior libero Luiza Andrade leads the team individually with 37 aces, averaging 0.52 per set to rank second in the MW.
Defensively, Andrade has led the back row with 319 digs, averaging 4.49 per set, to rank second in the league. Grajeda leads the SJSU block with 53 on the year, averaging 0.75 per set. Teams are hitting .211 (824-334-2,323) against the Spartans this season.
Head coach Jolene Shepardson is in her fifth year at the helm in San Jose, compiling an overall mark of 55-85 over that span, including a 1-6 record against Utah State.
Scouting the Wolf Pack
Nevada will travel to Boise State on Thursday, Oct. 25, before making the trip to Logan on Saturday. The Wolf Pack is currently 8-13 on the year, including an 1-9 record in the MW with the lone victory coming against the Aggies in Reno.
The Wolf Pack attack is hitting .190 (987-438-2,886) this season and is led individually by sophomore outside Kayla Afoa with 263 kills, averaging 3.21 per set, seventh in the MW. Junior setter Dalyn Burns is effective when dumping the ball, leading the team with a .447 (23-2-47) hitting percentage, and directing the attack with 622 assists, averaging 8.76 per set, third in the MW.
Defensively, senior libero Mo Maluotoga leads the Nevada back row with 301 digs, averaging 3.76 per set, to rank fifth in the MW. Redshirt freshman middle Hailey Maniglia leads the Wolf Pack block, totaling 58 on the year and averaging 0.71 per set. Opponents are hitting .222 (1,028-396-2,848) against the Wolf Pack this season.
Head coach Lee Nelson is in his fourth season, compiling an overall mark of 49-62 over that span, including a 3-3 record against the Aggies.
Balanced Attack
Utah State has had a different leader in hitting percentage in each of the last four matches.
Balance Attack - Part II
Utah State has been led in kills by multiple athletes over the last two matches, as two tied for the team lead with 16 against Boise State, while three tied for the team lead with 10 against Air Force.
Playing Everything on the Front Row
Sophomore right side Bailey Downing has played every position on the front row during her young career. Downing played middle last season and has appeared on the outside and on the right side this season.
Kill Leader on a Wolf Hunt
Downing logged a 19-kill performance at Nevada on Sept. 29, the most by an Aggie in a single match this season.
Current Blocking Leader
Freshman middle Corinne Larsen leads the USU block with 101 on the year, averaging 1.20 per set.
Freshman Blocking Prowess
Larsen is the first Aggie freshman to average more than one block per set since Hannah Smith averaged 1.36 per set as a freshman during the 2014 season.
Freshman Blocking Prowess - Part II
Freshman middle Preslee Jensen has made the most of three straight starts, leading the Aggies in blocks in each contest.
