OGDEN, Utah – After a pair of five-set losses to in-state opponents earlier this week, it seemed for much of the night that Utah State volleyball was doomed to another tough loss on Saturday night.
 
Then, the comeback.
 
The Aggies took over for commanding wins in sets three and four before opening the deciding frame on a 6-0 run and holding on late to complete the reverse sweep at Weber State, 3-2 (18-25, 21-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-12).
 
Head coach Rob Neilson
"That was really an emotional and mental turnaround for our young group. I don't know that they were ready for the kind of intensity that Weber State was playing with, and we got run out of the building in those first two sets. It was just an awesome adjustment by them and it's fun to watch this group grow up together. We're just going to keep getting better and better and better. We're finding our character in a lot of different areas of the game, finding our strengths and figuring out what works for us. We just have so many weapons and we have so much talent so even on a night when someone's not at their best, someone else is able to step up. We definitely saw that tonight."
 
Set One
With both teams playing their third in-state opponent in four days, the Aggies made the first move in the opening set, using a 4-0 run to go up 8-6 in the early going. USU led by as many as three before a trio of 4-0 runs from the Wildcats broke the set open and resulted in a 25-18 win for the home team.
 
Set Two
Weber State's momentum continued in the second set as the Wildcats opened on a 5-1 run. The Aggies battled back to eventually tie the set at 13 all before WSU again created separation with a 6-2 stretch. USU clawed back within two before time ran out on the comeback and the Wildcats went up 2-0 in the match.
 
Set Three
Coming out of the intermission, Utah State came out with a renewed intensity determined to extend the match. The Aggies seized control with an early 6-0 run. The Wildcats battled back on multiple occasions but never came closer than two points as USU responded to the Weber State encroachments with runs of 5-1, 5-0 and 4-1 en route to the 25-16 victory in the third frame.
 
Set Four
Now with momentum, Utah State maintained the initiative in the fourth set, quickly building a 9-4 run. This time, the Aggies kept their distance for the entirety of the set as the lead never shrunk below four points through the remainder of the set. A pair of kills from both senior Kaylie Ray and junior Tierney Barlow full shut the door for the 25-17 victory to force a fifth and final set.
 
Set Five
The final set was a near inverse of the overall match as the Aggies burst out of the gates with a pair of aces from freshman Kaylie Kofe. The opening run ultimately stretched to 6-0 before the Wildcats began clawing back into the set. An 8-2 stretch from Weber State ultimately tied the set at 12-12. Facing the possibility of a third-straight loss in five sets, the Aggies stood tall as a pair of kills from Ray sandwiched a solo block from freshman Ava Napierski to complete the comeback for the Aggies with a 15-12 win in the final frame.
 
Quick Notes

• Ray led the Aggies with a career-high 16 kills on a .414 hitting percentage, her first time this season leading USU in kills. Senior Adna Mehmedovic also recorded a solid night of hitting, finishing with 13 kills on a .478 hitting percentage, also adding five blocks. 
• Napierski led USU in both blocks and hitting percentage, finishing with seven blocks while recording eight kills on only 12 attempts, ending with a .500 hitting percentage.
• Freshman Mara Stiglic finished with her first career double-double featuring 10 kills alongside 12 digs, also adding five blocks.
• Kofe also recorded a double-double with a team-best 41 assists to go with 11 digs, also adding a team-high four aces.
• Sophomore Kendel Hone was the last of three Aggies to reach the double-digit digs plateau, finishing with 11 assists plus three aces.
• USU finished with a season-high 12 aces from the service line, the most by the team in a single match since recording 13 at New Mexico last season.
• Utah State's .266 hitting percentage was the team's highest mark this season, unseating USU's mark of .251 against Green Bay in the season opener.
• The Aggies have now gone the full five sets in four consecutive matches for only the second time in program history. USU is 2-2 during that stretch now with wins over Ohio and Weber State surrounding a pair of losses to BYU and Utah Valley. Utah State went five sets in five straight matches in 1989.

 
Up Next
Utah State prepares to open Mountain West play against Colorado State on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at the Wayne Estes Center.
 
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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