LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball (12-5, 4-2 Mountain West) was once again victorious inside the Wayne Estes Center as USU defeated Fresno State (12-5, 4-2 MW) 3-1 on Saturday.
The Aggies came out hot in set one after a kill from graduate opposite side hitter
Emilee Turner and three-straight hammers from junior outside hitter
Tatum Stall gave USU the 4-0 lead. The Bulldogs fought back to tie things up before a 10-0 Utah State run put the Aggies on top 20-10. After trading points, a Fresno State service error, block by senior middle blocker
Kennedi Boyd, service ace from sophomore setter
Beatriz Rodrigues and Stall kill secured the 25-12 victory.
The Bulldogs led the majority of set two, holding a late 19-16 advantage. A Boyd kill, service ace from junior defensive specialist
Abby Peterson, Capllonch kill and block from redshirt freshman middle blocker
Bella Wooden gave USU its first lead of the set 20-19. The teams went back and forth until a Stall kill and Boyd block gave the Aggies set point 24-22. Fresno State scored once more, but a kill from sophomore outside hitter
Adna Mehmedovic gave Utah State the 25-23 win.
Fresno State trimmed the Utah State advantage to 2-1 with a 25-23 set three win.
After being tied at 8-apiece, a 3-0 Aggie spurt put USU ahead 11-9 in set four. The teams traded points until a 5-0 Bulldog run gave Fresno State the 15-13 lead. After more back-and-forth, a Capllonch service ace tied it up at 18-each. Back-to-back Bulldog errors later gave USU the 20-19 lead and the Aggies never trailed again. Back-to-back kills from redshirt freshman opposite side hitter
Kaylie Ray and Boyd gave USU set point and a Fresno State service error gave Utah State the 25-22 victory.
Overall, Utah State hit .235 (52-21-132), while holding Fresno State to a .167 (48-24-144) mark. Stall led the Aggies with 14 kills. Freshman setter
Leah Wilton-LaBoy led USU with 23 assists, while Rodrigues added 18.
Defensively, Utah State was led by Capllonch with a match-best 17 digs, redshirt sophomore
Jordi Holdaway with 12 digs and Wooden with a match-high seven blocks.
Utah State wraps up its three-match homestand hosting Boise State (12-4, 4-1 MW) on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.
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.
-USU-
