LOGAN, Utah - Senior setter Kassidy Johnson moved higher on the all-time assist records, but Utah State came away with a three-set defeat (20-25, 23-25, 10-25) against Colorado State on Thursday night. Johnson recorded 17 of the Aggies' 21 assists to move to No. 7 all-time with 2,272 career assists.
Sophomore outside Gabbi Shumway led the Aggies with seven kills, while senior libero Tasia Taylor recorded a team-best 11 digs. Freshman middle Corinne Larsen paced the Utah State block with a match-high-tying six.
Neither team was able to find much separation in the opening set as the teams played through six ties during the early goings. Colorado State broke a 7-7 tie with back-to-back points and later took a 13-9 advantage, its largest margin to that point in the set. However, Utah State continued to chip away and came back to tie the set late at 17-17 and then again at 20-20, capped by a triple block by Shumway, sophomore right side Bailey Downing and freshman middle Preslee Jensen. Colorado State called a timeout and came out of the break with five-straight points to take the set, 25-20.
The Rams looked well on their way to quickly taking the second after capturing set point at 24-14. Utah State then made a dramatic comeback attempt as Larsen and Downing combined for a block that began a nine-point surge by the Aggies. The Colorado State attack unraveled during the run, committing eight errors, while the Utah State block turned away three CSU attempts and redshirt junior outside Ally Packard added a service ace. However, the USU run was stopped on a broken play when CSU redshirt junior middle Kirstie Hillyer recorded a kill to give the Rams the set, 25-23.
Colorado State bounced back and rediscovered its offense, hitting a match-high .480 (14-2-25) during the third set to Utah State's -.133 (6-10-30) to pull away from the Aggies, 25-10.
Hillyer and redshirt sophomore outside Breana Runnels led Colorado State with nine kills apiece, while junior Olivia Nicholson led all players with a match-high 12 digs. Hillyer also matched freshman middle Sasha Colombo with a match-high-tying six blocks.
Utah State finished the match hitting -.044 (21-25-90), while Colorado State finished the night hitting .151 (37-23-93), its third-lowest of the season.
The Aggies will close out their home slate on Saturday, Nov. 10, hosting Wyoming on Senior Night at 7:30 p.m. Prior to the match, seniors Lauren O'Brien, Johnson and Taylor will be honored. Fans can follow the contest with live video and live stat links on the Utah State volleyball schedule page, online at www.utahstateaggies.com.
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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