LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball returns to the court this week as the Aggies take on Idaho State in an exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m., in Pocatello, Idaho.
 
The Aggies earned a share of the regular season conference title in 2021, finishing the year with a 22-9 record, the most wins since 2010. USU posted 14 Mountain West wins, the most since 2012, and 12 home victories, the most since 1979. Head coach Rob Neilson was named the MW Coach of the Year.
 
Idaho State finished ninth in the Big Sky in 2021 after finishing the season with a 7-21 overall record, including a 3-13 mark in conference play. As a team, the Bengals hit .154 (1169-607-3660), while logging 1,509 digs, 1,057 assists, 200 total blocks and 138 service in the campaign.
 
Utah State was picked second in the annual MW preseason coaches poll, while junior outside hitter Tatum Stall was named to the preseason all-MW team.
 
Stall earned all-MW honors in 2021, leading the team in total kills (360) and kills per set (2.90). She also finished second on the squad in digs (250) and service aces (36). She posted double-digit kills in 22 matches, including a career-high 20 kills at New Mexico. Stall recorded double-digit digs 12 times, including a career-high-tying 15 digs at Nevada, and finished the season with 10 double-doubles.
 
Utah State returns eight letterwinners, including three starters and libero Abby Peterson. Peterson returns for her third season with the Aggies after leading the squad with 392 digs as a sophomore, finishing 2021 ranked sixth in the conference with 3.32 digs per set. Senior opposite side hitter Kylee Stokes, who was named to the Mountain West All-Tournament Team, finished second on the 2021 team with 268 kills and 92 blocks.
 
Senior middle blocker Kennedi Boyd appeared and started in 20 matches in 2021 before missing the remainder of the season due to injury, finishing with 168 kills and 76.0 total blocks. Boyd led the MW with a .423 (168-34-317) hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Beatriz Rodrigues led USU and ranked 10th in the MW with 5.41 assists per set in 2021, totaling 509 assists on the year.
 
USU returns seven more players from the 2021 squad, including senior defensive specialist Grace DuBay, junior middle blocker Inka Mehtola, three sophomores in outside hitter Adna Mehmedovic, opposite side hitter Katie Langford and setter Kalia Thunstrom, and outside hitter Kaylie Ray and middle blocker Bella Wooden, both redshirt freshmen.
 
Utah State welcomes seven newcomers to the 2022 squad, including graduate middle blocker Myrthe Maring, an FIU transfer, fifth-year senior opposite side hitter Emilee Turner, a Seton Hall transfer, senior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch, a UNLV transfer, redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Jordi Holdaway, a Boise State transfer, and outside hitter Audrah Radford, outside hitter Kylie Tengberg and setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy, all freshmen.
 
Utah State volleyball opens its regular season next week as the Aggies host Cal Poly and UCLA for the Utah State Invitational. Both USU matches will be played on Friday, Aug. 26, with the Aggies faces the Mustangs at 11 a.m., and the Bruins at 6 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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