Box Score

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State volleyball lost a three-set decision at Fresno State on Saturday afternoon, losing to the Bulldogs 21-25, 23-25, 16-25. With the loss, the Aggies are now 5-20 on the year and 3-11 in the Mountain West, while Fresno State moved to 18-8 and 10-3 in league play.

USU was led offensively by sophomore outside Gabbi Shumway with nine kills, making up almost half of the Aggies' 22 total kills during the match. Overall, Utah State hit .011 (22-21-92) during the contest, while Fresno State hit .162 (44-26-111). Senior setter Kassidy Johnson recorded 19 assists to move within 10 of climbing to No. 7 all-time in career assists in Utah State history (Andrea Delsigne, 2,265). Senior libero Tasia Taylor led the Aggies with 13 digs.

Fresno State scored the opening points of the match to take a 2-0 lead and led start-to-finish in the first set. Utah State trailed by eight (18-10) midway through the set before chipping away with four-straight points to halve the lead, capped by a Shumway service ace. Fresno State bounced back and took set point at 24-18, but the Aggies fought back with three straight, capped by a block by Johnson and freshman middle Corinne Larsen, making the set 24-21. The run ended as Fresno State recorded a kill on the next rally and took the set, 25-21.

The teams traded the lead back-and-forth three times in the early goings of the second set with USU going ahead 5-3 following back-to-back errors by the Bulldogs. The advantage was erased following a five-point Bulldog run, giving the home side a 13-12 lead later in the frame. Utah State answered the run with two points of its own as a kill by freshman middle Preslee Jensen was followed by a block by Jensen and sophomore outside Bailey Downing, giving the Aggies a 14-13 lead. However, it was the last time that Utah State was ahead in the set as Fresno State put together a 9-1 run to take a 22-15 lead. Utah State pulled within one point, 23-22, late in the frame on a Shumway kill, but Fresno State scored two of the final three points of the set to take a two-set lead, 25-23.

Utah State had the momentum halfway through the third set after overcoming an 8-3 deficit and turning it into a 14-11 lead following an 11-3 run. The run was bookended by Fresno State errors, but the Bulldogs regrouped and finished the set on a 14-2 run to take the match, 25-16.

Fresno State was led by senior outside Taylor Slover with a double-double effort of 14 kills and 13 digs. Sophomore libero Reagan Leonard led all players on the back row with a match-high 16 digs.

Utah State will close the home portion of its 2018 schedule next week when the Aggies host Colorado State on Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m., followed by the home finale against Wyoming on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 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.

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