PROVO, Utah – Utah State volleyball (3-2) closed out its run at the BYU Nike Invitational with a 3-0 sweep over Cincinnati (1-5) in Provo, Utah, on Saturday.
The Aggies struggled early against the Bearcats as Cincinnati led 19-8 in set one. However, Utah State responded with a huge 17-3 run to close out the set and earn the 25-22 victory. Graduate opposite side hitter
Emilee Turner got the run started with three kills and senior outside hitter
Shelby Capllonch added one of her own to trim the Bearcat advantage to single digits 21-12.
Cincinnati scored once more to lead 22-12, but Utah State countered with a 13-0 run to end the set. Freshman setter
Leah Wilton-LaBoy stayed calm and collected behind the service line for the final 12 points, earning three service aces in the run. Capllonch recorded three kills in the final stretch, while senior opposite side hitter
Kylee Stokes added one more. During the run, Capllonch and senior middle blocker
Kennedi Boyd recorded back-to-back blocks and four Bearcat errors helped lift the Aggies to their 25-22 set one victory.
The second set had a similar start as Cincinnati held an early 6-1 advantage. Utah State slowly chipped away at the margin until a 4-0 run, capped by a kill from junior outside hitter
Tatum Stall, gave USU its first lead of the set 15-14. After trading points, another 4-0 Aggie run, this time capped by a Turner kill, gave Utah State the 20-16 edge. A Boyd kill put Utah State at set point 24-20, and a Stokes kill secured the 25-22 set two win.
The Aggies once again came from behind in set three after the Bearcats led 7-2. Utah State fought back with a 7-2 run to tie it at 9-apiece before a 3-0 run gave USU the 12-10 lead. After the Bearcats led 18-16, a Capllonch kill and back-to-back service aces from junior defensive specialist
Abby Peterson put the Aggies back on top 19-18. Cincinnati took back the lead 22-20, but a 5-1 Utah State run, capped by a Stall kill, clinched the USU sweep as the Aggies won the third set 25-23.
Overall, Utah State hit .271 (43-14-107), while holding Cincinnati to a .181 (33-16-94) mark. Stokes led USU with eight kills, while Stall, Boyd, Capllonch and Turner each notched seven.
Wilton-LaBoy recorded a team-best 18 assists and four service aces. Redshirt sophomore libero
Jordi Holdaway had a match-best 17 digs, while Boyd, Capllonch and redshirt freshman middle blocker
Bella Wooden each posted a match-high-tying three blocks.
Utah State next travels to Corvallis, Oregon, for the Asics Invitational where the Aggies will face Portland State (2-4) and Oregon State (2-2) on Friday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m. (MT) and 9 p.m. (MT), respectively, before taking on Portland (5-1) on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 12:30 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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