FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Utah State volleyball has a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving as the Aggies are headed to the 2022 Mountain West championship match after sweeping top-seeded UNLV on Thursday.
It will mark the Aggie's first appearance in the championship match of a conference tournament since Utah State's 3-0 sweep over Hawai'i in the 2010 WAC title contest.
No. 4 USU (21-10, 11-7 MW) has been absolutely dominant thus far in the tournament as Utah State swept No. 5 New Mexico in the opening round before sweeping No. 1 UNLV (26-4, 17-1 MW) in the semifinals. The Aggies will face the winner of this evening's No. 2 San Josè State vs. No. 6 San Diego State contest on Friday, Nov. 25, at 6:30 p.m. The match will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
Outside hitter Shelby Capllonch picked up right where she left off as the senior had a match-high-tying 13 kills, while hitting .423 against her former team. Sophomore opposite side hitter Adna Mehmedovic added 11 kills, while senior middle blocker Kennedi Boyd hit .615 (8-0-13). Freshman setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy led the squad with 23 assists, followed closely by sophomore setter Beatriz Rodrigues with 22. Wilton-LaBoy, along with junior outside Tatum Stall, led USU with two service aces.
Defensively, graduate middle blocker Myrthe Maring led the Aggies with six blocks, while redshirt sophomore libero Jordi Holdaway led with 12 digs.
Overall, USU hit .305 (48-16-105), while holding UNLV to a .178 (36-18-101) mark.
After a 6-3 UNLV lead in set one, a 4-1 Utah State run, featuring kills from Boyd, Capllonch and Mehmedovic, tied it at 7-apiece. The Rebels went on a short run before a 5-0 Aggie spurt, capped by a Mehmedovic and Maring block, gave USU a 12-11 edge. The teams went back and forth until a 4-0 USU run, this time capped be a Capllonch hammer, gave Utah State a 19-14 advantage. Another Capllonch kill later gave the Aggies set point before a Stall tip secured the 25-18 victory.
The Rebels took an early six-point lead in set two, but the Aggies countered with a 4-0 run to trim the margin to 10-8. UNLV maintained its lead until a couple Mehmedovic kills and a Maring and Mehmedovic block tied it at 13-all. The Rebels regained their lead and held on until two Capllonch kills and a hammer from senior opposite Kylee Stokes gave the Aggies their first lead of the set 21-20. UNLV held one last lead at 22-21, but a 3-0 USU run, capped by another Maring and Mehmedovic block, gave Utah State set point 24-22. The Rebels scored once more, but Capllonch clinched the 25-23 win with a kill.
The Aggies could practically taste the championship match heading into set three as Utah State came out absolutely firing. A Stall kill followed by blocks from the junior and Boyd gave USU a 3-0 edge. UNLV scored once before USU scored three more quick points for the 6-1 advantage. After trading points, a pair of Capllonch kills and a Wilton-LaBoy service ace extended the margin to 11-4. UNLV started to fight back, trimming the lead to four a few times before making it a two-point game at 23-21. Utah State refused to surrender, however, as a Capllonch kill gave USU set point and a Stokes and Maring block sealed the 25-21 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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