SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Utah State volleyball (17-8, 9-5 Mountain West) came out victorious in its second California match of the week as the Aggies defeated San Diego State (7-18, 5-9 MW) 3-1 on Saturday.
Overall, USU hit .371 (53-14-105), the best Utah State mark in a four-set match in program history, while SDSU hit .132 (40-25-114).
The Aggies were phenomenal behind the service line as USU tied the program record with 14 service aces in a four-set match. It marked the third time in program history Utah State had 14 service aces in a four-set match and is the first time accomplishing the feat since doing so at Wyoming on Sept. 14, 2000. Junior outside hitter
Tatum Stall led the way for Utah State with a career-best five aces.
Three Aggies logged double digit kills as Stall had 12, sophomore opposite side hitter
Adna Mehmedovic had 11 and senior outside
Shelby Capllonch had 10. Capllonch finished the match with a double-double after posting a match-best 10 digs.
USU's setters both recorded more than 20 assists as freshman
Leah Wilton-LaBoy had 23 and sophomore
Beatriz Rodrigues had 21. Both Utah State middle blockers had at least five blocks as redshirt freshman
Bella Wooden had seven and senior
Kennedi Boyd had five.
USU and SDSU had a close battle in set one as the Aztecs ultimately won 27-25.
The Aggies came out hot in set two as kills from Capllonch and Mehmedovic, along with an ace from Wilton-LaBoy, gave USU a 13-6 edge. An 8-2 SDSU run trimmed the margin to 15-14. The Aztecs continued to stay close until the Aggies closed out the set with a 7-1 spurt, capped by a Wilton-LaBoy ace and Wooden and Capllonch block, for the 25-18 win to tie the match at 1-all.
After San Diego State took a 3-2 lead in set three, Utah State countered with a 5-0 run highlighted by kills from Mehmedovic and senior opposite
Kylee Stokes, a Boyd and Stokes block, and back-to-back Rodrigues service aces for the 7-3 advantage. A kill followed by a service ace from Stall later extended the margin to 18-11. The Aggies maintained the lead until a SDSU service error, Capllonch ace and Wooden block extended the edge to 23-14. The Aztecs trimmed the lead to six, but a Wooden and Mehmedovic block gave USU set point before a SDSU service error sealed the 25-18 USU win.
The teams traded points to open set four before a 5-1 USU run, capped by a Stall ace, gave Utah State the 7-3 lead. San Diego State trimmed the edge to one before a 4-0 Aggie spurt, highlighted by Capllonch, Wilton-LaBoy and Wooden kills, put Utah State ahead 13-8. A 3-0 USU run later gave the Aggies the 20-11 advantage. Utah State maintained the distance as the Aggies closed out the set with a 3-0 run, capped by a Capllonch kill, for the 25-14 victory.
Utah State returns to the Wayne Estes Center on Thursday, Nov. 10, as USU hosts San Josè State (18-6, 12-2 MW) 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.
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