LINCOLN, Neb. – After losing set one, Utah State volleyball (1-1) bounced back to win each of the next three sets for the 3-1 victory against SMU (1-1) on Saturday.
Three Aggies logged double digit kills against the Mustangs as graduate outside hitter
Shelby Capllonch and junior opposite side hitter
Adna Mehmedovic each had 13, while graduate outside
Jill Schneggenburger had a career-high-tying 12. Capllonch recorded her 39th career double-double after leading USU with a match-high-tying 14 digs, while Schneggenburger posted her 11th career double-double after logging 11 digs.
Both USU setters finished with double-digit assists as sophomore
Leah Wilton-LaBoy had 23 and junior
Beatriz Rodrigues had 18.
Utah State built a strong wall defensively, finishing with 13.5 total blocks. The USU middle blockers led the effort as senior
Kelsey Watson had a match-high eight blocks, while graduate
Kennedi Boyd finished with five. Four more Aggies logged at least three blocks in the match. Freshman libero
Kambree Rodriguez rounded out the USU defensive leaders after finishing the match with 12 digs in her collegiate debut.
Utah State held an early 6-4 lead after a 3-0 run in set one. SMU reclaimed the advantage and led until another 3-0 USU run tied it at 17-each. That would be as close it would get in the first, however, as the Mustangs won 25-21.
SMU led 12-9 in set two before a 4-0 Aggie run, capped by a block from Boyd and sophomore opposite side hitter
Kaylie Ray, gave USU a 13-12 edge. The teams traded points until another 4-0 Utah State run, this time capped by a service ace from Wilton-LaBoy, gave the Aggies a 20-16 lead. USU closed out the second with a 5-1 run as a Mehmedovic kill clinched the 25-18 victory.
The Aggies scored the opening two points of the third and never trailed in the set. A kill from Schneggenburger gave Utah State an early 6-3 lead. USU maintained its advantage as a kill from Watson and back-to-back Schneggenburger hammers put Utah State ahead 15-10. The Mustangs chipped away at the edge with a 6-1 run to tie it at 16-apiece, but the Aggies responded with three-straight points to claim a 19-16 lead.
SMU would once again tie it before kills from Ray, Boyd and Capllonch, along with a Schneggenburger ace, gave Utah State the 23-19 edge. The teams traded the next couple of points until a kill from Rodriguez secured the 25-21 Aggie win.
Utah State came out hot in the fourth as the Aggies jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead. SMU worked its way back to within one before a 5-0 USU run, capped by a pair of Capllonch kills, extended the Utah State advantage to 14-8. The Mustangs responded with an 8-1 run to take a 16-15 edge.
After some back and forth, a SMU attack error, Ray kill and Schneggenburger ace gave USU a 21-18 advantage. The Mustangs would once again tie it at 22-each before the Aggies responded with back-to-back kills from Capllonch and Mehmedovic. Utah State secured its first win of the season with a block from Mehmedovic and Watson for the 25-22 victory.
Overall, USU hit .227 (55-21-150), while holding SMU to a .153 (48-25-150) mark.
Utah State wraps up its road trip by taking on Lipscomb (0-1) on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 10 a.m. (MT).
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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