LAS VEGAS, Nev. – After losing the first two sets, Utah State volleyball (15-5, 8-1 Mountain West) bounced back to win the next three to complete its comeback at UNLV (12-9, 4-5 MW) on Thursday night.
The Aggies were led by graduate senior
Shelby Capllonch with 19 kills and junior opposite
Adna Mehmedovic with 17. Both USU setters logged at least 20 assists in the match as sophomore
Leah Wilton-LaBoy had 23 and junior
Beatriz Rodrigues had 20. Rodrigues also led the team with a season-high five service aces, while Capllonch added four.
Defensively, both Utah State middle blockers led the Aggies in blocks as graduate senior
Kennedi Boyd and senior
Kelsey Watson each logged four. Wilton-LaBoy recorded her second double-double of the season and 10th of her career after leading Utah State with a career-high-tying 15 digs.
Utah State lost the first two sets 25-20 and 25-17, respectively.
UNLV led 17-12 in set three, but USU responded with a 4-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back blocks from Watson and junior opposite
Katie Swensen, to trim the lead to 17-16. Utah State tied it four times before a 3-0 spurt, capped by a Mehmedovic kill, gave USU the 23-21 edge. The Rebels scored once more before a UNLV attack error and Rodrigues ace secured the 25-22 victory.
After the Rebels took a 12-8 lead in set four, the Aggies turned around with a 6-2 run, highlighted by kills from Capllonch and Mehmedovic, to tie it at 14-all. UNLV responded with a 3-0 spurt and maintained its lead until back-to-back kills from Capllonch and Mehmedovic tied it once more at 20-apiece. UNLV scored the next point, but USU scored the next four to earn set point 24-21. The Rebels scored twice more, but a Mehmedovic hammer gave the Aggies the 25-23 win.
Utah State opened the fifth set with a dominant 6-0 lead as a Mehmedovic kill and Capllonch ace started the run for the Aggies. UNLV trimmed the lead to two, but back-to-back kills from graduate opposite/outside
Jill Schneggenburger and Capllonch extended the USU advantage to 10-6. The Rebels cut the lead to two twice more, but another Capllonch hammer along with a UNLV attack error gave USU the 13-9 edge. Capllonch put USU at match point with her 19th kill of the night and a Schneggenburger hammer clinched the 15-12 victory.
Overall, USU hit .242 (61-24-153), while UNLV hit .319 (63-20-135).
Utah State returns to the Wayne Estes Center to host San Diego State (8-12, 3-6 MW) on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m.
Tickets for the 2023 Utah State volleyball season are on sale now.
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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