LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball (16-5, 9-1 Mountain West) extended its win streak to six with a 3-1 victory over San Diego State (8-13, 3-7 MW) inside the Wayne Estes Center on Saturday.
"There was good energy in here and we love playing in front of our fans," head coach
Rob Neilson said. "That was a really tough match. Coming back from a five-setter in Las Vegas, getting back late last night and then playing early this afternoon, the team was tired and just gutted it out. Hats off to the San Diego State team. They were grinding and flying all over the place. They really played tough. They're going to be tough for teams coming down the stretch."
The Aggies were led by senior outside hitter
Tatum Stall with 17 kills, while junior opposite side hitter
Adna Mehmedovic added 10. Sophomore setter
Leah Wilton-LaBoy had a match-high-tying 27 assists, followed closely by junior setter
Beatriz Rodrigues with 24.
Defensively, USU was led by senior outside
Shelby Capllonch with 15 digs. Stall logged her third double-double of the season and 21st of her career after finishing the match with 11 digs. Graduate senior middle blocker
Kennedi Boyd had a match-best six blocks.
"We had two really hard games this week and we battled," Stall said. "It wasn't our prettiest volleyball, but we got through it. We really showed some perseverance and I'm proud of everyone."
SDSU led 15-10 in set one before an 8-2 USU run, capped by a Capllonch kill, put Utah State on top 18-17. The teams went back and forth with the Aggies earning the first set point before the Aztecs used a 3-0 run to win 26-24.
The teams traded points to open set two. After San Diego State took a 12-11 lead, a 4-0 Utah State run that featured kills from Stall, Capllonch and senior middle blocker
Kelsey Watson, along with a block by Watson and graduate senior opposite
Jill Schneggenburger, gave USU the 16-12 advantage. The Aggies maintained the distance as back-to-back kills from Stall and Schneggenburger to close the set gave USU the 25-19 victory.
After SDSU took an early lead in set three, a 3-0 Aggie run, highlighted by a Capllonch kill, Boyd and Schneggenburger block, and service ace from freshman libero
Kambree Rodriguez, tied it at 8-apiece. The set continued to go back-and-forth as a Stall service ace gave the Aggies the 17-16 lead. SDSU later held a 21-20 advantage before a 4-0 USU run gave Utah State set point 24-21. The Aztecs scored three-straight to tie it, but a Boyd hammer and SDSU attack error secured the 26-24 USU win.
Three-straight kills from Boyd and Stall gave Utah State the early 3-1 lead in set four. After trading points, a 7-1 Aggie run, bookended by a pair of Capllonch kills, gave USU the 14-8 edge. SDSU responded right back with a 9-2 run to take a 17-16 lead. The teams continued to go back and forth before an ace from senior defensive specialist
Jordi Holdaway gave the Aggies their first match point of the day 24-23. The Aztecs scored back-to-back points to earn a set point of their own, but kills from Wilton-LaBoy and Stall put Utah State back on top 26-25. San Diego State tied it twice more, but back-to-back Watson and Schneggenburger kills clinched the 29-27 victory.
Overall, USU hit .217 (60-26-157), while SDSU hit .219 (59-25-155).
Utah State next faces Colorado State (12-9, 6-4 MW) on the road on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7 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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