LAS VEGAS – Utah State volleyball set a new season-high hitting percentage on Saturday against UNLV, hitting .352 as a team to sweep the Rebels, 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 26-24), at the Cox Pavilion.
Head coach Rob Neilson
"It's amazing to see a young group as they learn to play winning, principled volleyball and gain more and more confidence in their remarkable abilities. I'm proud of their effort, especially in a tough third set where we got down by a lot early. We're just scratching the surface and we'll continue working hard."
Set One
Fresh off a reverse sweep of San Diego State on Thursday, the Aggies preserved their momentum in Vegas as an early 4-0 run put USU up 10-5. After the Rebels trimmed the lead to two points on several occasions, Utah State shut the door courtesy of 4-1 and 4-0 runs en route to the 25-16 opening set win. The Aggies hit .563 in the opening frame while holding the Rebels to a mark of .168.
Set Two
After a slightly sluggish start to the second set, the Aggie offense again took over, scoring nine consecutive points to turn a 5-2 deficit into an 11-5 lead. Another 4-0 burst pushed USU's lead to its largest margin at eight points before UNLV clawed back into the set with a 6-1 stretch. At risk of giving away the set, the Aggies then retook command with a 4-1 run highlighted by a kill from freshman
Andrea Simovski and a block from senior
Adna Mehmedovic and junior
Tierney Barlow. A kill from freshman Mara Stiglic then clinched the set win for USU at 25-20.
Set Three
With Utah State holding a 2-0 set lead, it was the Rebels who made the first move in the third set, jumping out to a 9-2 lead in a bid to extend the match. Slowly, the Aggies ate into the deficit with quick runs of 4-0 and 3-0. After battling to a 14-13 deficit, USU saw UNLV re-extend the lead with a 4-0 burst. Utah State trailed by five points as late as 22-17 before blitzing the Rebels with a 9-2 stretch of their own to claim the 26-24 win. In the final stretch, USU received kills from Stiglic, Barlow, Mehmedovic and graduate senior
Kelsey Watson to ultimately clinch the match.
Quick Notes
- The sweep snapped a streak of seven consecutive matches in which Utah State played to five sets. According to available research, this is believed to be the longest such streak in women's volleyball history at the Division I level.
- A trio of Aggies reached double figures in kills as Simovski led USU with 12 kills while hitting. 258. Stiglic and Mehmedovic also reached the 10-kill plateau, finishing with 11 and 10 kills, respectively, while hitting .261 and .412.
- Simovski recorded her second career double-double, posting a career-high 15 digs to go along with her 12 kills.
- Watson, playing in her first game since Sept. 18 due to injury, led USU with an .857 hitting percentage, going 6-for-7 with zero errors.
- Barlow posted a team-high six blocks, also tying for the team lead in service aces alongside freshman Jagoda Bialek with two apiece.
- Freshman Kaylie Kofe again led the Aggie attack in assists, finishing with 32.
- With the win, USU is now 5-10 on the season and 2-3 in MW play.
- With the victory, head coach Rob Neilson is now 4-4 all-time against UNLV.
Up Next
Utah State returns home to the Wayne Estes Center to face New Mexico on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. The Aggies will then host Air Force on Saturday, Oct. 12, at noon.
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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