ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After losing set one, Utah State volleyball (10-4, 3-0 Mountain West) bounced right back to win the next three sets for the 3-1 road victory against New Mexico (9-5, 1-2 MW) on Thursday night.
 
Graduate senior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch led the Aggies with a season-best 20 kills, becoming the first Aggie to reach the 20-kill mark this season. Sophomore opposite side hitter Kaylie Ray also logged double-digit hammers, finishing the match with 11. Junior setter Beatriz Rodrigues led USU with 23 assists, while sophomore setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy added 16. Rodrigues logged her 20th career double-double after recording 11 digs. Both Capllonch and graduate senior outside Jill Schneggenburger logged four service aces each, marking a career-high for Schneggenburger.
 
Two more Aggies recorded double-digit digs as freshman libero Kambree Rodriguez had a match-high-tying 14, while Schneggenburger had 11. Senior middle blocker Kelsey Watson had a team-best three blocks.
 
New Mexico won set one 25-16.
 
A kill from junior opposite Adna Mehmedovic gave USU the 5-3 lead early in set two. After the Lobos took an 8-7 edge, a 4-0 Aggie run, capped by back-to-back Capllonch hammers, gave the Aggies an 11-8 advantage. UNM responded with a 3-0 run to tie it before a 5-0 USU spurt, fueled by kills from Rodriguez and Capllonch, along with a pair of Wilton-LaBoy service aces, gave Utah State the 16-11 lead. New Mexico trimmed the lead to two before a 4-1 Utah State run gave USU the 21-16 advantage. A Ray kill put USU at set point and a Rodriguez ace secured the 25-20 victory.
 
The Aggies jumped out to a 4-1 lead in set three following a Capllonch kill, block by Mehmedovic and graduate senior middle blocker Kennedi Boyd, and a service ace from Capllonch. Utah State extended its lead to 11-5 following a Schneggenburger ace and kills by Ray and Capllonch. A 3-0 Aggie run would give Utah State the 20-12 edge, however, the Lobos made a late rally to trim the margin to 23-22. A Ray hammer ended the Lobo run to put the Aggies at set point before a Lobo attack error gave USU the 25-22 win.
 
The score stayed tight early in set four as back-to-back UNM points gave New Mexico a 13-12 edge. However, that would be the last points for Lobos as the Aggies closed out the set with a dominating 13-0 run for the 25-13 victory. A Ray hammer got the run started for the Aggies, followed by a Watson and Capllonch block, three Capllonch kills and a Schneggenburger ace. After a UNM attack error gave USU a 19-13 lead, back-to-back kills from Watson and Capllonch, another Watson and Capllonch block, a Lobo bad set and yet another Capllonch hammer gave Utah State match point 24-13. Schneggenburger then clinched the victory with an ace.
 
Overall, USU hit .194 (54-24-155), while UNM hit .208 (43-17-125).
 
Utah State next travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to take on Air Force (10-4, 2-1 MW) on Saturday, Sept. 30, at noon.
 
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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