RENO, Nevada --- Utah State volleyball defeated Nevada, 3-1, on Saturday, improving to 8-0 following a loss this season. The Aggies remain in second place in the Mountain West standings with the victory.
The match started shakily for Utah State as the Aggies held a 21-19 lead in the first set before allowing a 6-0 Wolfpack run which gave Nevada their first set victory since Oct. 26. USU responded in earnest, as an 8-1 run midway through the second set powered the Aggies to an imposing 25-15 win in the second set to square the match at one set apiece.
After Nevada opened the third set on a 5-0 run, the Aggies again responded to the situation with 6-2 and 9-1 runs to help secure the 25-17 victory in the third set. Utah State looked to swiftly take control in set number four by building an 8-3 lead before a 6-0 Wolfpack run signaled the onset of a back-and-forth affair. Despite a 5-0 run which gave USU a 22-18 advantage late in the set, it was Nevada who first served for set point with a 24-23 lead. A block by sophomore Inka Mehtola and freshman Katie Langford tied the score at 24 all before two consecutive kills by sophomore Tatum Stall gave the Aggies the 26-24 victory in the set and a 3-1 win for the match.
Stall led the attack for Utah State with 14 kills, adding a team-high 15 digs to post her ninth double-double of the season. Langford and junior Kylee Stokes both added 10 kills for the match. Mehtola led USU with five total blocks while freshman Beatriz Rodrigues led the Aggies with 27 assists. As a team, Utah State hit only .137 for the match, their third-lowest mark of the season and their lowest hitting percentage in a victory. The Aggies also held the Wolfpack to only a .101 hitting percentage, the third-lowest percentage by a Utah State opponent this season.
The win sets up a pivotal match as Utah State returns to the Wayne Estes Center to take on league-leading Colorado State on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. The Aggies would enter into a tie for first place in the conference with a victory.
Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
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