LOGAN, Utah – Reigning Mountain West Tournament champion Utah State was picked tied for first in the annual Mountain West preseason coaches poll, while seniors outside hitter Tatum Stall and libero Jordi Holdaway earned a spot on the all-MW Preseason Team.
 
Rob Neilson enters his fourth season at the helm of the program after leading the Aggies to back-to-back Mountain West championship titles. In 2022, USU won its first-ever Mountain West Tournament Championship and made its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2010, and just the program's fifth-ever appearance. The Aggies finished the campaign with a 22-11 overall record, which was the first time USU has recorded at least 22 wins in back-to-back seasons since 1982.
 
Utah State, which claimed five first-place votes, was picked first with 92 points alongside regular season MW champion UNLV, who had three first-place votes. Colorado State was selected third with three first-place votes and 86 points. New Mexico and San Diego State tied for fourth with 64 points. Boise State (59), Air Force (38), San José State (35), Nevada (32), Wyoming (28) and Fresno State (15) rounded out the sixth through 11 spots.
 
Stall, who was named all-MW and to the MW all-tournament team last season, appeared in all 33 matches, starting in 32, led the Aggies with 373 kills and was second in service aces with 42. She recorded double digit kills in 23 matches, including a career-high 27 against UNLV (Oct. 29), and finished the campaign with six double-doubles. Stall recorded a career-best 19 digs at UNLV (Oct. 13).
 
Holdaway returns for her senior campaign after leading the Aggies with 437 digs a season ago, starting in all 33 matches at libero. The 437 digs ranked 10th on the single-season record list. Holdaway had double-digit digs in 24 matches, including a career-best 26 at Weber State (Sept. 17). She finished the campaign ranked third on the team with 121 assists and fourth with 28 service aces.
 
Including Stall and Holdaway, Utah State returns six starters and nine total letterwinners. Graduate middle blocker Kennedi Boyd, who was also named all-MW and to the MW all-tournament team last season, started in all 33 matches in 2022, leading the Aggies in both attack percentage (.355) and blocks (133). Graduate outside Shelby Capllonch, the 2022 MW Tournament MVP, also started in all 33 matches, finishing the campaign ranked second on the squad in kills (315) and digs (345).
 
Sophomore setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy appeared in all 33 matches, starting in 30, leading the Aggies with 685 assists and ranked fourth with 204 digs. Sophomore middle Bella Wooden made 21 appearances, starting in 16 matches, finishing third on the team with 55 total blocks.
 
Junior outside Adna Mehmedovic, a member of the MW all-tournament team, returned from an injury midway through the 2022 season to finish fifth on the team with 154 kills. Junior setter Beatriz Rodrigues appeared and started in all 33 matches, starting in three, and finished the 2022 campaign tied for sixth on the single-season record list in service aces with 42, while finishing second on the team with 646 assists.
 
Utah State returns three more players from its 2022 roster, including senior middle Inka Mehtola, junior opposite side hitter Katie Swensen and sophomore outside Kaylie Ray.
 
Utah State welcomes six newcomers to the 2023 squad, including graduate outside Jill Schneggenburger, a Colorado transfer, senior middle Kelsey Watson, a Loyola Chicago transfer, and four freshmen in setter Kaylin Scott and liberos/defensive specialists Kendel Hone, Rachel Reed and Kambree Rodriguez.
 
Fans will have the chance to take an early look at the 2023 Utah State volleyball team as USU will host Idaho State for a home exhibition match on Friday, Aug. 18, at 6 p.m. Admittance to the exhibition is free.
 
The reigning Mountain West Tournament champions will open the 2023 season at a tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Aggies first face host Nebraska, which made it to the regional semifinals in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, on Friday, Aug. 25, before facing SMU on Saturday, Aug. 26, and Lipscomb on Sunday, Aug. 27. The Huskers finished the 2022 campaign ranked ninth in the nation.
 
Season 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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