Match Notes | UNM Live Stats | UNLV Live Stats | Watch Live

Utah State opens its 2018 Mountain West slate this week in a road opener at New Mexico (6-6) on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., followed by its MW home opener on Saturday, Sept. 22, against UNLV (9-3) at 1 p.m. New Mexico leads the all-time series against USU, 18-12, and UNLV also leads the all-time series against the Aggies, 8-4.

How to Watch
Fans can follow each of the matches via live stat and live video links online at www.utahstateaggies.com.

Scouting the Lobos
New Mexico, picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll, enters the match on Wednesday with an overall mark of 6-6 and having lost two of its last three matches.

The UNM attack is hitting .183 (578-275-1,659) on the year and led individually by junior outside Lauren Twitty with 160 kills, averaging 3.33 per set. Senior middle Mariessa Carrasco is the most efficient hitter for the Lobos, hitting .272 (65-25-147). New Mexico runs a 6-2 system with freshman Sabrina Bianco and redshirt freshman Jaclyn Inclan sharing the setting duties, totaling 274 and 183 assists and averaging 5.59 and 3.98 per set, respectively.

Senior Mercedes Pacheco paces the UNM back row with 82 digs, averaging 3.28 per set, but she has not appeared in a match since Sept. 7. In her absence, Twitty leads the Lobos in digs, totaling 120 on the year and averaging 2.50 per set. Senior middle Victoria Spragg leads the New Mexico block with 50 during the season, averaging 1.02 per set. Opposing teams are hitting .209 (597-261-1,606) against the Lobos this season.

Scouting the Rebels
UNLV, picked last in the preseason coaches' poll, has exceeded expectations, leading the Mountain West with a 9-3 overall record. The Rebels will host Boise State on Thursday, Sept. 20, before making the trip to Logan on Saturday. UNLV is currently riding a six-match winning streak.

UNLV is hitting .268 (598-193-1,511) this season and paced individually by sophomore outside Mariena Hayden with 205 kills, averaging 4.56 per set. Junior setter Antonette Rolda directs the attack, totaling a team-best 302 assists and averaging 6.71 per set.

Defensively, Hayden also leads the UNLV back row with 160 digs, averaging 3.56 per set. Senior middle Elsa Descamps leads the Rebel block with 48 on the year, averaging 1.07 per set. Opposing teams are hitting .154 (455-230-1,463) against the Rebels this season.

Aggies in Conference Road Openers under DuBose
Utah State is 6-6 all-time in conference road openers under head coach Grayson DuBose, but have won five of its last seven conference openers away from Logan.

Aggies in Conference Home Openers under DuBose
Utah State is 8-4 all-time in conference home openers under head coach Grayson DuBose, including a victory over San Diego State in its 2017 MW home opener.

Top Blockers
Utah State is the only team in the Mountain West with two players ranked among the top six in the league in blocks per set, in freshman middle Corinne Larsen (third, 1.35 bps) and senior middle Lauren O'Brien (sixth, 1.24 bps).