LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball sophomore Loryn Helgesen has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Oct. 26. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
 
With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
 
Helgesen led Utah State with 41 total kills in a pair of Mountain West home wins against San Diego State (3-2) and UNLV (3-1) last week, averaging 4.56 kills per set while leading USU in kills in both matches. Helgesen added eight blocks and 13 digs during the week. She tied her career-highs with six blocks and 23 kills against the Aztecs, hitting.444 on 45 total attempts with only three errors and recording a team-high three kills in the decisive fifth set. Against UNLV, she posted 18 kills on 36 total attempts.
 
It is Helgesen's second-straight week and third time in her career being named the USU Student-Athlete of the Week, all coming this season. Helgesen first earned the award earlier this season after posting a program-record .704 hitting percentage against Grand Canyon, recording 20 kills with one error on 27 attempts, ranking as the highest hitting percentage by a non-senior in a conference match in Mountain West history (min. 10 kills). Last week, Helgesen earned the distinction after hitting 26 kills on a .511 hitting percentage in wins against Fresno State and Boise State.
 
UP NEXT
Utah State heads back to the road for rematches against the previous week's opponents. USU will first face San Diego State on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. (MT), before again taking on UNLV on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. (MT).
 
Season tickets, mini-plans, and single-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here or by contacting the USU Ticket Office at 435-797-0305.
 
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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Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
FOOTBALL – Graduate running back Miles Davis (Las Vegas, Nevada) rushed for a game-high 110 yards on 10 carries, including a 64-yard touchdown, in Utah State's 33-14 Mountain West loss at New Mexico. It was his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and the fourth of his career. Davis added two receptions for three yards.
 
GOLF – Sophomore Noah Moody (Vineyard, Utah) led Utah State as he tied for 17th at 2-under 214 for his best collegiate finish, best-ever 54-hole score and first top 20 placing at the Monterrey (Mexico) Collegiate Classic. In fact, it is his first under-par finish of his USU career. Moody began the tournament with a 2-under 70, followed by even par rounds of 72 during his final 36 holes. His opening round 70 is his lowest round as an Aggie. He finished the fall schedule with four rounds under par. USU tied for 10th in the 12-team field at 13-over 877 (290-294-293).
 
SOCCER – Freshman forward Hadli Barrera (Hyrum, Utah) helped Utah State to a 2-0-0 home week with a 6-1 win against Nevada and a 7-1 win against San José State. Against the Wolf Pack, Barrera recorded a goal and an assist with three shots, including two on goal, in 45 minutes of action. Against the Spartans, Barrera scored two goals, the first USU freshman to have a brace since Summer Diamond in 2023. She took three shots, two of which were on frame, in 36 minutes of action. On the week, Barrera totaled seven points on three goals and an assist, with six shots including four on goal in 81 minutes of action.
 
MEN'S TENNIS – Junior Jean-Baptiste Badon (Los Angeles, California) led Utah State at the ITA Mountain Regional Championships and reached the semifinals of the singles draw, qualifying for the ITA Sectional Championships. Badon recorded straight-sets wins against Air Force's AJ Moore and Boise State's Flip Soderqvist plus a three-set win against Utah's Maximillian Relic to open the tournament. Badon then defeated Utah's Samuel Rovai in straight sets (6-4, 6-1) to reach the semifinal round where he  fell in a three-set battle to UNLV's Illia Maksymchuk. Playing alongside sophomore teammate Xavier Calvelo in doubles, the duo recorded a pair of victories against opponents from Montana State and Idaho before falling in the third round.
 
2025-26 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 1 – Miles Davis, Football
Sept. 8 – John Miller, Football
Sept. 15 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 22 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 29 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, Volleyball
Oct. 13 – Tess Werts, Soccer
Oct. 20 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
 
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