LOGAN, Utah - Utah State volleyball will open its 2018 season this weekend, traveling to Sacramento, Calif., to take part in the Hornet Invitational. The Aggies are slated to face host-Sacramento State, along with Arizona and CSUN (formerly Cal State Northridge).
USU is 13-17 all-time against the tournament field and hasn't faced any team in the field for more than 10 years. Utah State leads CSUN in the all-time series with a 7-5 advantage, including victories in four of the last six matches. However, the Aggies trail both Sacramento State and Arizona, as the Hornets are 2-0 against Utah State and the Wildcats have won each of the last seven and lead 10-6 overall.
The Aggies will open the tournament by playing Sacramento State on Friday, Aug. 24, at 1 p.m. (MT). The Hornets are coming off one of their best seasons in school history, finishing 26-10 overall and 15-1 in the Big Sky, capturing their first regular-season conference title since the 2007 season. Sacramento State returns four of its top five attackers from a season ago in senior outside Mikaela Nocetti (496 kills), senior middle Lana Brown (335 kills), junior right side Sarah Davis (256 kills) and senior middle Brie Gathright (223 kills). All four are also returning starters, but will need to rely on a pair of freshmen setters to direct the attack in 2018.
Last season, Sacramento State hit .221 (1,972-708-5,732) and averaged 13.51 kills per set, second in the Big Sky. The Hornets also finished among the top three in their league in assists per set (12.69, 2nd), service aces per set (1.35, 3rd) and digs per set (17.17, 2nd).
Arizona and Utah State will take the court at 6 p.m. (MT) in the second match of the day for both teams on Friday. The Wildcats return all six starters and their starting libero from a season ago, when Arizona finished 11-18 overall and 5-15 in the Pac-12. Arizona returners bring a wealth of experience as the team is carrying over 78 percent of its kills (1,057-of-1,363), 93 percent of its assists (1,177-of-1,260), 73 percent of its digs (1,102-of-1,502) and 76 percent of its blocks from last season.
Last season, Arizona hit .204 (1,363-608-3,706) and averaged 12.50 kills per set. Setter Julia Peterson was ranked fifth in assists in the league in 2017, averaging 10.14 per set.
Utah State will wrap up its weekend in Sacramento by facing CSUN on Saturday, Aug. 25, at noon (MT). The Matadors return four starters from a team that finished 13-15 overall and 7-9 in the Big West, finishing fifth. CSUN is led by senior outside Aeryn Owens, a two-time all-Big West selection and the top returning attacking option for the Matadors. Owens led CSUN with 488 kills last season, averaging 4.60 per set to rank second in the Big West.
Last season, CSUN hit .221 (1,357-582-3,500), fourth in the Big West, and averaged 12.80 kills per set, fifth in the Big West. The Matadors led the league in service aces per set, tying UC Irvine with 1.55 per frame.
Fans can follow all of the action this weekend with live stat links available online at www.utahstateaggies.com. Video of the matches will only be available against Sacramento State, streaming online via PlutoTV with a link provided 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.
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