OREM, Utah – Utah State volleyball (7-3) broke out the brooms in its final non-conference road match of the season as the Aggies swept in-state rival Utah Valley (3-8) on Thursday night.
Graduate outside hitter Shelby Capllonch led the Aggies with 10 kills, while graduate middle blocker Kennedi Boyd led with a .700 (7-0-10) hitting percentage. Junior setter Beatriz Rodrigues logged a match-high 20 assists, followed by sophomore setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy with 18.
Defensively, Boyd led USU with six blocks, while freshman libero Kambree Rodriguez led with 10 digs.
A 6-1 Aggie run, highlighted by kills from sophomore opposite side hitter Kaylie Ray, Boyd and Capllonch, along with a Boyd service ace, gave USU a 12-5 edge in set one. Utah State maintained the distance until the Aggies closed out the set with an 8-1 run for the 25-10 victory. USU finished the first set with four-straight kills, including three-straight from Ray before a final hammer from Capllonch sealed the win.
After the Wolverines opened with a 4-0 lead in set two, the Aggies chipped away at the margin until a 4-1 spurt, capped by an ace from graduate outside hitter Jill Schneggenburger, gave Utah State the 8-7 advantage. UVU would take back the lead at 10-9, but USU responded with a huge 8-0 run for the 17-10 edge. Utah Valley trimmed the lead to four twice, but would be unable to get any closer as a Boyd kill gave USU set point and a Capllonch hammer again gave USU the set victory at 25-19.
Utah Valley looked to make a comeback in the third as the Wolverines led the majority of the set. After UVU took a 20-17 lead, USU turned around with a 4-0 run, capped by a Capllonch ace, for the 21-20 advantage. The teams traded points until a Ray kill put Utah State at match point and a block from Ray and Boyd clinched the sweep with a 25-23 win.
Overall, USU hit .385 (44-9-91), while UVU hit .189 (32-15-90).
Utah State next hosts No. 12 BYU (9-1) inside the Wayne Estes Center on Saturday, Sept. 16, at 7 p.m.
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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