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Utah State will close out the month of September with a pair of road matches this week, traveling to San José State on Thursday, Sept. 27, and then to Nevada on Saturday, Sept. 29.
How to Watch
Fans can follow each of the matches via live stat and live video links online at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Scouting the Spartans
San José State enters the match with an overall mark of 5-6, including an 0-2 ledger in the Mountain West after losses against Wyoming and Colorado State last week. The Spartans have lost four of their last five.
SJSU is hitting .197 (477-229-1,262) this season and led individually by redshirt junior Fernando Vido with 124 kills, averaging 3.26 per set to rank ninth in the MW. Freshman middle Haylee Nelson is the most efficient hitter for the Spartans, hitting .374 (68-19-131) to rank third in the Mountain West. Fellow junior middle Thaliana Grajeda is just behind her, hitting .360 (66-17-136) to rank fourth in the league. Freshman Mamie Garard and junior Kaitlynn Zdroik have shared the setting duties, averaging 6.24 and 3.88 assists per set, respectively.
Defensively, senior libero Luiza Andrade has led the back row with 154 digs, averaging 4.05 per set, while freshman middle Haylee Nelson has led the block, totaling 28 on the year and averaging 0.80 per set. Teams are hitting .199 (431-190-1,214) against the Spartans this season.
Head coach Jolene Shepardson is in her fifth year at the helm in San Jose, compiling an overall mark of 51-81 over that span, including a 1-5 record against Utah State.
Scouting the Wolf Pack
Nevada will host Boise State on Thursday, Sept. 27, before welcoming Utah State to Reno on Saturday afternoon. The Wolf Pack is currently 7-6 on the year, including an 0-2 record in the MW after losses to Colorado State and Wyoming last week. Nevada has lost each of its last four matches.
The Wolf Pack attack is hitting .205 (609-251-1,745) this season and led individually by sophomore outside Kayla Afoa and junior outside Jamila Minor with 171 and 156 kills, respectively. Minor actually leads the team with 3.63 kills per set (fourth in the MW), followed by Afoa with 3.56 per set (sixth in the MW). Junior setter Dalyn Burns is effective when dumping the ball, leading the team with a .477 (23-2-44) hitting percentage, and directing the attack with 464 assists, averaging 9.87 per set (second in the MW).
Defensively, senior libero Mo Maluotoga leads the Nevada back row with 205 digs, averaging 4.36 per set (third in the MW), while redshirt freshman middle Hailey Maniglia leads the Wolf Pack block, totaling 33 on the year and averaging 0.69 per set. Opponents are hitting .214 (599-230-1,722) against the Wolf Pack this season.
Head coach Lee Nelson is in his fourth season, compiling an overall mark of 48-55 over that span, including a 2-3 record against the Aggies.
Streaking in the Right Direction
Utah State has strong momentum against both opponents this week, having won seven of the last eight against San José State and three of the last four against Nevada. During the current streak against the Spartans, USU has only dropped five sets and has won three of the last four on the road. USU has won four of the last five in Reno.
All Tied Up
Utah State is tied in the all-time series against both opponents this week. The Aggies are 20-20-1 all-time against San José State and 22-22 all-time against the Wolf Pack.
Fit to be Tied
San José State is one of just six opponents that the Aggies have tied in school history. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in the first meeting on Nov. 3, 1979.
Majority Leader
USU head coach Grayson DuBose has coached the Aggies to the majority of the wins over San José State and Nevada. DuBose has been responsible for 17 of the total 20 victories again SJSU, and 15 of the 22 victories over Nevada.
Freshman Blocking Prowess
Freshman middle Corinne Larsen is the first Aggie freshman to average more than one block per set since Hannah Smith averaged 1.36 per set as a freshman during the 2014 season.
