by Ashley Springer

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State women's volleyball (5-22, 3-13 Mountain West) lost in three sets (22-25, 12-25, 22-25) to Wyoming on Saturday night. 

Prior to the match, USU honored its three seniors in middle Lauren O'Brien, who had two kills and one dig in the match; setter Kassidy Johnson, who had 29 assists, six digs, four block assists and two service aces; and libero Tasia Taylor, who had a team-best seven digs.

The Aggies were led offensively by sophomore right side Bailey Downing who posted a match-high 13 kills, hitting a team-best .458 (13-2-24). Defensively, freshman middle Corrine Larsen led the Utah State block with four.

The opening set was tightly contested with 10 ties and five lead changes. Wyoming led, 7-5, early on, but USU was able to tie it back up at 7-7 after a Cowgirl attacking error and an O'Brien kill. The teams went back-and-forth until a service ace by redshirt junior outside Ally Packard and a pair of Wyoming attacking errors gave Utah State a 15-12 advantage. Wyoming came back to tie it up two more times, and after evening the score 17-17, would maintain its edge to win the first set, 25-22.

The Cowgirls were in control in the second set, leading by as many as 14, 21-7. Wyoming hit .400 (12-2-25) during the frame, while the Aggies hit -.226 (4-11.31). Wyoming won the set, 25-12.

USU bounced back to start the third with an early 5-1 lead following a bad set by Wyoming, a kill from freshman outside Whitney Solosabal, and three consecutive Downing kills. Wyoming then came back to take its own advantage, 8-6. However, Utah State echoed over the next two rallies as a pair of kills from Solosabal and sophomore outside Gabbi Shumway evened up the score, 8-8. Wyoming then came back to lead late, holding a 21-19 edge. The Aggies again evened up the score, 21-21, after a Cowgirl attacking error and another Downing kill, but Wyoming closed out the match with a 4-1 run for the 25-22 win.

Wyoming was led by junior outside Tara Traphagan with 10 kills. Junior setter Cori Aafedt and freshman setter Marissa Hines each recorded 17 assists. Defensively, freshman defensive specialist Jaiden Chase led the Cowgirls with 13 digs, while senior middle Reed Copeland posted eight blocks. 

Utah State finished the match hitting .064 (33-26-110), while Wyoming finished .326 (41-11-92). 

The Aggies wrap up their 2018-19 schedule on the road next week, taking on Boise State in Boise, Idaho, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. USU then faces Air Force in its season finale in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. 

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-