LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball received votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Poll. The Aggies gleaned four votes to rank 36th in the nation.
 
Utah State (3-2) was the only Mountain West team to receive votes in the poll.
 
The Aggies opened their 2022 season 2-0 as USU defeated then-No. 12 UCLA 3-1 (27-25, 29-27, 22-25, 25-19) and Cal Poly 3-1 (25-20, 27-25, 20-25, 27-25) at the Utah State Invitational. The victory over the Bruins marked the Aggies' first win over a ranked opponent since Utah State's 3-0 victory over No. 3 Hawai'i to win the WAC Tournament Championship on Nov. 24, 2010.
 
Senior opposite side hitter Kylee Stokes led the Aggies offensively in their first two matches with 29 combined kills, averaging 3.63 per set, while adding four block assists and a dig. Her efforts earned Stokes both America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week and MW Offensive Player of the Week honors. Setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy also earned weekly honors as she was named the MW Freshman of the Week after leading the Aggies with a combined 48 assists, averaging 6.00 per set, and was third on the team with 20 digs, averaging 2.50 per set, in week one.
 
USU went 1-2 last week at the BYU-hosted Nike Invitational as the Aggies lost to both No. 7 BYU and No. 10 Pittsburgh 3-0 before sweeping Cincinnati 3-0. Senior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch hit a team-best .417 in the match against the Cougars with six kills, while redshirt freshman outside Kaylie Ray posted five. Against the Panthers, Capllonch hit .400 in the match with 12 kills to lead the Aggies, while Ray hit .500 with eight. Against the Bearcats, Stokes led Utah State with eight kills, while four separate Aggies each notched seven. Wilton-LaBoy recorded a team-best 18 assists and four service aces.
 
Utah State next travels to Corvallis, Oregon, for the Asics Invitational, where the Aggies will face Portland State (2-4) and Oregon State (2-3) 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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