FRESNO, Calif. – Utah State volleyball (16-8, 8-3 Mountain West) opened its two-match California road trip with a 3-0 sweep at Fresno State (6-19, 0-3 MW) on Thursday night.
 
Sophomore opposite side hitter Adna Mehmedovic led the Aggies with a match-high-tying 11 kills, while freshman setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy led USU with a match-best 16 assists. Sophomore setter Beatriz Rodrigues added 14 assists while leading the team with a career-high six service aces.
 
Defensively, redshirt sophomore libero Jordi Holdaway led the team with 10 digs, while senior middle blocker Kennedi Boyd led with four blocks.
 
Utah State absolutely dominated in set one, jumping out to a quick 13-2 edge. USU maintained the double-digit lead for the entirety of the set as a kill from senior opposite Kylee Stokes would give the Aggies a 22-8 advantage. A 5-1 Bulldog run would trim the margin to 10 but a Fresno State service error gave Utah State set point and a hammer from redshirt freshman middle blocker Bella Wooden gave USU the 25-15 victory.
 
The next two sets were closer as Fresno State held an 8-6 lead in the second. A 6-2 Aggie spurt, capped by a Wilton-LaBoy setter dump and Rodrigues ace, put Utah State on top 12-10. The teams would tie twice more before a 5-1 USU run gave the Aggies the 22-18 advantage. After the Bulldogs trimmed the lead to one, a Fresno State attack error gave USU set point 24-22. The Bulldogs fought back to tie it twice more, but a Mehmedovic kill followed by an ace from senior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch ace secured the 27-25 win.
 
Fresno State once again held an early lead in set three before a block and back-to-back kills from Boyd and Stokes gave Utah State the 6-4 advantage. A 3-0 Bulldog spurt later gave Fresno State the 9-8 edge. The teams traded points until a 7-0 Utah State run, highlighted by kills from Capllonch and Mehmedovic, a Wooden and Mehmedovic block, and a Wilton-LaBoy service ace, gave USU the 23-17 edge. The Bulldogs responded with a 3-0 run, but another Mehmedovic kill gave the Aggies set point before a Wooden hammer clinched the 25-21 victory.
 
Overall, USU hit .271 (44-18-96), while Fresno State hit .188 (33-14-101).
 
Utah State continues its California road trip at San Diego State (6-17, 4-8 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. (MT).
 
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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