WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 25, 2023
Weekly Aggie Update
FOOTBALL
Contact: Doug Hoffman - (435) 797-3714
This Week
Sat., Sept. 30 --- at UConn, 10 a.m. (MT) (CBSSN)
• Utah State football (1-3, 0-1 MW) continues its 2023 season this weekend with a non-conference game at UConn (0-4) on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. (MT). The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221). USU is 2-0 all-time against the Huskies, including a 1-0 road record.
Last Week
L, 38-45 --- JAMES MADISON
• James Madison scored the first four times it touched the ball – three touchdowns and a field goal – but had to hold on for a thrilling 45-38 win against Utah State last weekend. The Aggies trailed 24-0 just nine seconds into the second quarter and 38-17 at halftime, but fought all the way back to tie it up at 38-all with 11:01 to go in the game after junior wide receiver Micah Davis caught a career-long 76-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback McCae Hillstead. In his first-career start for the Aggies, Hillstead was 25-of-47 passing for 399 yards – the most in school history by a freshman – and four touchdowns. However, he also threw three interceptions. Senior wide receiver Terrell Vaughn caught a game-best 10 passes for a season-high 124 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns. Both of Vaughn's touchdowns were in the third quarter, a 20- and 6-yarder, respectively, to pull the Aggies within 38-31. Jordan McCloud was 23-of-34 passing for 364 yards and four touchdowns, to go along with two interceptions, for the Dukes, who finished with a dozen more yards (512-500). McCloud's final touchdown pass of the night was a 74-yarder to Reggie Brown to give JMU the lead back for good, 45-38 with 5:52 to go in the fourth quarter. However, Utah State got the ball back three more times before the clock hit zero. Unfortunately for the Aggies, they turned it over on downs once and Hillstead was intercepted twice – the second of which went off the hands of graduate junior wide receiver Colby Bowman following a hard hit by a JMU defender. Bowman finished with two receptions for a career-high 78 yards, including a career-long 63-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. Sophomore safety Ike Larsen had a game-high 10 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Sophomore safety Devin Dye added a career-best nine tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup, to go along with his first-career interception. Redshirt junior safety Anthony Switzer had two turnovers in the game with an interception and fumble recovery. Junior running back Davon Booth led all rushers with a career-high 103 yards on 21 carries for the Aggies, who had negative 22 yards and zero first downs after the first quarter.
SOCCER
Contact: Jaden Johnson - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Thur., Sept. 28 --- COLORADO STATE, 5 p.m. (MWN)
Sun., Oct. 1 --- WYOMING, 1 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State soccer (4-6-1, 1-1-0 MW) returns home this week for a pair of Mountain West matches as it hosts Colorado State (6-2-2, 1-0-1 MW) on Thursday, Sept. 21, at 5 p.m., and Wyoming (4-3-3, 0-2 MW) on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on the Mountain West Network, with links to live stats and video available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Last Week
L, 0-1 --- at Air Force
W, 2-1 --- at Colorado College
• Utah State opened Mountain West play with a 1-1 record as it lost at Air Force 1-0 and posted a 2-1 win at Colorado College. Against the Falcons, the Aggies fell short in a match that was decided by a penalty kick goal. USU did create 14 shots in the match, tied for its second-most in a game this season. A foul near the edge of the box by USU junior defender Addy Symonds-Weichers set the Falcons up with a 31st minute penalty kick. Graduate goalkeeper Diera Walton got a hand on the shot, but was unable to keep it out of the back of the net. The Aggie defense continued to hold strong, led by a season-high seven saves by Walton. Against Colorado College, the Aggies scored in the seventh minute when sophomore forward Tess Werts scored the second goal of her career and first of the season. Werts received a pass from sophomore midfielder Kaylie Chambers near midfield before spinning and weaving between multiple Tiger defenders before chipping a shot over the keeper to make it a 1-0 USU advantage. This was Chambers' team-best third assist of the year. The Aggies remained out front until the 62nd minute, when Colorado College's Brett Tsamasfyros slid into a well-placed pass in the box to tap the ball past USU graduate keeper Diera Walton, but the tie was short-lived. In the 75th minute, senior defender Kylie Olsen received the ball back after a throw-in in Tiger territory, before using a perfect cross into the box to find junior forward Tenzi Knowles for a right-footed strike into the left corner of the net. This was the second goal of the season for Knowles and the third of her career.
VOLLEYBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Thur., Sept. 28 --- at New Mexico, 6:30 p.m. (MWN)
Sat., Sept. 30 --- at Air Force, Noon (MWN)
• Utah State volleyball (9-4, 2-0 MW) continues Mountain West play this week with a pair of matches at New Mexico (9-4, 1-1 MW) on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 6:30 p.m., and at Air Force (10-3, 2-0 MW) on Saturday, Sept. 30, at noon. Both matches will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network and is available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Last Week
W, 3-2 --- WYOMING
W, 3-1--- COLORADO STATE
• Utah State posted a 2-0 Mountain West home record last week with a 3-2 win against Wyoming and a 3-1 win against Colorado State. Against the Cowgirls, USU hit .277 (60-21-141), while UW hit .163 (59-33-160). Four Aggie logged double-digit kills, led by junior opposite side hitter Adna Mehmedovic with 17, while sophomore opposite Kaylie Ray had a career-best 12, senior outside hitter Tatum Stall had 11 and graduate outside Shelby Capllonch had 10. Stall finished the match with her 20th career double-double after logging 10 digs, while Capllonch had her 41st career double-double with 12 digs. Junior setter Beatriz Rodrigues led the Aggies with 27 assists, while sophomore setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy added 21. Senior middle blocker Kelsey Watson had a match-high six blocks, while freshman libero Kambree Rodriguez had a match-best 22 digs. Against the Rams, USU hit .285 (59-24-123), while CSU hit .175 (36-18-103). The Aggies were led by their outside hitters as Capllonch had 18 kills and Stall had 10. Rodrigues led USU with 23 assists, followed by Wilton-LaBoy with 17. Defensively, USU was led by graduate senior middle blocker Kennedi Boyd with four blocks and Rodriguez with 11 digs.
CROSS COUNTRY
Contact: Jake Ellis - (435) 797-8584
Next Week
Fri., Oct. 6 --- STEVE T. REEDER MEMORIAL, 3 p.m.
• Utah State's cross country teams will be back at home when the Aggies host the Steve T. Reeder Memorial Invitational on Friday, Oct. 6, starting at 3 p.m. on the Steve and Dona Reeder Cross Country Course.
Last Week
M: 1/2; W: 1/3 --- at NCAA Mountain Regional, Reno, Nevada
M: 16/23; W: 18/23 --- at Virginia Invitational
• Utah State competed at two meets last week, beginning at the NCAA Mountain Regional Preview in Reno, Nevada, where the Aggies swept the team titles. On the men's side, junior Wyatt Evans led the way in the 10K race at the Washoe County Golf Course as he placed second with a time of 32:41.60. USU claimed four of the top five spots to garner 21 points and beat host Nevada, which tallied 40 points. For the Aggie women, they captured eight of the top-12 spots in the 6K race. Meredith Price was the first USU runner to cross the finish line as the sophomore placed third with a time of 23:17.40. The Aggies finished with 25 team points to beat both Hawai'i (51 points) and Nevada (56). Utah State concluded the week at the Virginia Invitational at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, site of the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Graduate senior Camren Todd led the way for the Aggies in the men's 8K, placing 40th with a time of 23:55.8. USU finished in 16th place as a team with a total of 364 points, edging No. 17 Washington by 12 points. On the women's side, the Aggies finished 18th with 476 points, finishing right behind Mountain West-foe Air Force, which took 16th. Junior Emma Thornley placed 63rd with a time of 17:19.6 to lead USU.
GOLF
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
This Week
Mon.-Tues., Sept. 25-26 --- Fresno State Invite, 9 a.m. (MT)
• Utah State's golf team will make a trip to the Golden State when the Aggies compete in the Fresno State-hosted Nick Watney Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 25-26. The tournament will be held at Fort Washington Country Club in Fresno, California.
Last Competition
10th/24 --- at Air Force Invitational
• Julio Arronte Sanchez turned in the best score of the day, and of his career, as the junior shot a final-round 7-under 65 to lead Utah State in the final round of the 54th Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, hosted by Air Force at the Eisenhower Golf Club two weeks ago. The Aggies were in 21st place after the first day and entered the final round in 15th place, but moved up five spots and finished in 10th in the 24-team field with a score of 876 (+12) on the par-72 Blue Course. Sanchez climbed 52 spots up the leaderboard to finish in a tie for ninth at 1-under 215 against the field of 120. He had five birdies and one eagle on the day, to go along with 12 pars. He led the Aggies in par-four scoring (4.00), par-five scoring (4.67), pars made (37) and eagles (1) for the 54 holes. With his career-best 7-under 65, Sanchez moved into a tie for ninth in school history in career-low rounds for 18 holes (both vs. par and total score). He is the first Aggie since Chase Lansford in 2021 to shoot that low. Freshman Ashton McArthur tied for 35th individually at 3-over 219 and junior Esteban Jaramillo tied for 47th at 5-over 221. Seniors John Cook and Cole Enlow tied for 57th (7-over 22) and tied for 98th (16-over 232), respectively.
MEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Thur.-Mon., Sept. 28-2 --- at ITA Regionals, Colorado Springs, Colorado, All Day
• Utah State men's tennis continues its fall tournament season at the ITA Regionals in Colorado Springs, Colorado beginning on Thursday, Sept. 28 through Monday, Oct. 2.
Last Week
NTS --- at Air Force State Invite
• Utah State won two main draw singles titles as well as a consolation title at the Air Force-hosted Bedford Cup in the Mountain last weekend. In singles play, fifth-year senior Bodin Zarkovic defeated UNLV's Anton Ornberg in three sets (4-6, 6-0, 7-5), and Air Force's Phillip Deaton in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) on the first day. On the second day, Zarkovic defeated Denver's Anish Sriniketh in straight sets (7-6, 6-1), and on the final day he defeated Weber State's Tristan Sarap in the final round of the East Draw of the Lightning Flight in a straight sets (6-2, 6-2) to take the singles main draw title. Senior Stijn Paardekooper won both of his Friday singles matches in the Raptor Flight with a three-sets win (6-3, 1-6, 6-1) against Boise State's Jan Lucca Marquardt and a win over Weber State's William Zuch in straight sets (6-2, 6-1). On Saturday, Paardekooper was victorious in a back-to-back tiebreak straight-set win against BYU's Redd Owen. And in the final round of the Main Raptor Draw, senior Stijn Paardekooper was victorious with a straight set win over Air Force's AJ Moore (7-5, 6-4) to earn his main draw title. Junior Sergi Micó Fenollar also competed in the Lightning Flight, but lost in straight sets (7-5, 7-6 (4)) to Weber State's Tristan Sarap in the first round. He then defeated Air Force's Arjun Kersten in three sets (6-4, 3-6, 6-4). On the second day, Fenollar defeated New Mexico State's Tobias Wallin in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) to advance into the final consolation round, where he defeated UNLV's Anton Ornberg in three sets (2-6, 6-0, 10-1) to earn his consolation singles win. In doubles, Micó Fenollar and Zarkovic had a first-round bye before losing 6-1 to Denver's Rikuto Yamaguchi and Charlie Miller. The pair advanced to the semifinals of the North Draw by way of withdrawal due to injury of their Montana opponents, and then defeated Patrick Lohmann of NMSU and Jacob Watkins of Montana, 6-1, to finish doubles play.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri.-Sun., Sept. 29-1 --- at Colorado State Invite, All Day
• Utah State women's tennis continues its fall tournament season at the Colorado State-hosted Jon Messick Invitational on Friday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 1.
Last Week
NTS --- at Boise State Invite
• Utah State competed at the Boise State-hosted Barb Chandler Classic last weekend. On the first day, sophomore Jade Brilhante and junior Cielo Tapia-Cruz lost 6-1 in doubles action to BSU graduate senior Joana Baptista and junior Ariadna Briones Ginesta in the Orange Main Draw. Tapia-Cruz then fell to Baptista in straight sets in singles play (6-4, 6-2), while Brilhante lost to Ginesta (6-3, 6-0). In the White Main Draw, senior Maile Brilhante and freshman Savannah Johnson lost 6-1 in doubles play to BSU's Ryan Kershner and freshman Ella Piron. In singles play, M. Brilhante lost to Piron in straight sets (6-3, 6-1), while Johnson lost in straight sets (7-5, 6-1), as well. On the second day in the Orange Main Draw consolation semifinals, J. Brilhante and Tapia-Cruz lost in a 7-5 doubles battle to Weber State sophomore Kenadee Semenik and freshman Dylan Lolofie. Tapia-Cruz then fell to Semenik in three sets (6-2, 2-6, 6-2), while Brilhante lost to Lolofie in straight sets (6-3, 6-1). M. Brilhante and Johnson then defeated Montana State senior Felicia Jayasaputra and junior Mia Ljubas 6-1 in the consolation semifinals of the White Main Draw. In singles action, M. Brilhante lost to Jayasputra in straight sets (7-5, 6-3) and Johnson was defeated in a first-set tiebreak and ultimately lost 7-6, 6-2.
