FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Utah State volleyball (17-5, 10-1 Mountain West) has won seven-straight matches after the Aggies came from behind for the 3-2 victory at Colorado State (12-10, 6-5 MW) on Thursday night.
Utah State was led by senior outside hitter
Tatum Stall with a season-best 19 kills, while junior opposite side hitter
Adna Mehmedovic added 14. Sophomore setter
Leah Wilton-LaBoy had a season-high 29 assists, while junior setter
Beatriz Rodrigues finished with 21.
Defensively, three Aggies finished the night with 11 digs in Stall, who recorded her fourth double-double of the season, graduate senior outside
Shelby Capllonch and freshman libero
Kambree Rodriguez. Sophomore middle blocker
Bella Wooden came off the bench for the final three sets to lead USU with a career-high-tying eight blocks.
Colorado State won the first two sets 25-22 and 25-15, respectively.
After the Rams took a 9-8 lead in set three, a 4-0 Aggie run, highlighted by kills from Mehmedovic and Stall, along with blocks from Wooden and Mehmedovic, put Utah State on top 12-9. A 6-1 USU spurt, featuring kills from Mehmedovic, sophomore opposite
Kaylie Ray and Capllonch, as well as a Stall service ace, extended the lead to 19-12. The teams traded the next few points before a Watson and Mehmedovic block gave Utah State set point 24-16 and a hammer from senior middle blocker
Kelsey Watson secured the 25-17 victory.
CSU took an 8-4 lead in set four, but USU responded with a 6-0 run, highlighted by a Wooden and Ray block, Rodriguez service ace and kills from Ray and Wooden, for the 10-8 edge. A pair of Stall kills and a Ram error later gave USU the 15-12 advantage. Colorado State chipped away at the lead to take a 19-18 edge, but a 4-0 Utah State run, capped by a Wilton-LaBoy kill, put USU back on top 22-19. The Aggies maintained their lead as a Wooden and Mehmedovic block gave Utah State set point and a Mehmedovic kill clinched the 25-23 win.
Colorado State took an early 3-1 lead in the fifth set. The Aggies tied it five times before a Capllonch and Wooden block gave USU the 9-8 edge. After the Rams tied it at 9-apiece, back-to-back Mehmedovic and Stall kills, along with a Wooden solo block, gave Utah State the 12-9 advantage. A Wooden kill followed by a service ace by senior defensive specialist
Jordi Holdaway later put USU at match point 14-10. Colorado State scored the next three points, but a Mehmedovic hammer secured the reverse sweep as the Aggies won 15-13.
Overall, USU hit .237 (61-25-152), while CSU hit .257 (63-25-148).
Utah State next takes on Wyoming (16-6, 5-6 MW) on the road on Saturday, Oct. 28, 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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