LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball (3-7, 3-7 MW) fought through a five-set battle against Air Force (5-6, 5-6 MW) Friday night, coming out victorious in a 3-2 win. 

Utah State took the first set, 25-17, while Air Force bounced back to win sets two and three, 28-26 and 25-18, respectively. The Aggies took a dominant fourth set, 25-11, then came back from behind to end the match with the fifth set, 17-15. 

USU finished the night with three players recording double-digit kills. Senior opposite side hitter Bailey Downing led all players with a season-best 15 kills. Freshman outside hitter Tatum Stall recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 kills and 10 digs. Junior outside hitter Kristy Frank also ended the match with 10 kills, reaching double digits for the fourth time this season. 

The Aggies exploded on the block Friday night, recording a season-high 14 blocks to Air Force's two. Junior middle blocker Autumn Spafford led USU with a season-best eight blocks of her own, including two block solos and six block assists. Sophomore setter Kalena Vaivai also added a career-best five block assists. 

Utah State and Air Force traded points fairly evenly early on in the first set, before the Aggies put a 4-0 run together. USU led by as many as six, before taking the set point on a block solo from Stall. The second set resulted in alternating runs from each team. The Aggies fought off two set points, but the Falcons took the set on three-straight points. Air Force maintained that momentum through the third, leading through the majority of the set. The Falcons led 21-13, with the Aggies unable to climb back enough to regain control.

That feeling shifted in the fourth set, in which USU came out dominating. After taking the first point, the Aggies kept things going, en route to their biggest set win since a match against Weber State on Nov. 22, 2016. The competitive nature of the match returned in the fifth set. Air Force took control early, taking a 9-3 lead. Later, back within four, Utah State took the lead on a 5-0 run. After the teams tied the score at 15, a successful challenge by the USU coaching staff gave the Aggies the final momentum to close out the set, with Downing making the final kill.

Overall, Utah State hit a season-best .267 (51-16-131) while Air Force hit .168 (58-33-149).

The Aggies and Falcons return to action on Saturday, March 20, in a 1 p.m. match. 

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.