LAS VEGAS – As perfect as perfect gets.

Utah State volleyball capped off its perfect conference season with a Mountain West tournament championship, defeating Colorado State, 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-19), in the title match on Saturday afternoon at the Pavilion. The Aggies become just the second team in MW history to go undefeated in league play and also win the conference tournament.

USU has now won five conference titles in the last five seasons, also winning the MW tournament title in 2022 and claiming regular season titles in 2021, 2023 and this season. 

Four Aggies were named to the all-tournament team in sophomore outside hitters Andrea Simovski and Mara Štiglic, sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen and sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe. Simovski also earned tournament MVP honors.

With the victory, the Aggies will participate in the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in program history. USU also went dancing in 2023, 2022, 2010, 2005, 2001 and 2000. USU also made six appearances at the AIAW tournament in the 1970s and 80s, including a run of five-straight appearances at the AIAW Nationals, winning a national title in 1978.

Set One
The Aggies left little doubt in the match's outcome from the first serve. Helgesen, Štiglic and Simovski each recorded four kills in the first set as Utah State hit .500 in a 25-16 victory. Helgesen registered a kill followed by a block alongside senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow to power a 4-0 run early in the frame. The Aggies then responded to a 3-0 CSU run with a 3-0 run of their own featuring kills from Helgesen and Simovski to maintain control. After the Rams battled back within two points midway through the set, USU again shut the door with a 4-0 burst keyed by a Helgesen kill and ace. The Aggies kept the foot on the gas late, all but closing out the set with a 4-0 run to go up 24-15 as Štiglic and Helgesen recorded kills while Kofe posted back-to-back aces. Following a single Ram point, redshirt freshman middle blocker Lauren Larkin then delivered the clinching kill to go up 1-0 in the match.

Set Two
Kofe opened up the second set much like she ended the first, scoring an ace on the first play to ignite a 4-1 run out of the gates. This time, the Rams fought back to ultimately tie the set at 11-11 before the Aggies again raced in front with a 3-0 spurt featuring kills from Larkin, Štiglic and Helgesen. CSU managed to stay within several points before Utah State again smothered the comeback attempt with a 4-0 run powered by a trio of kills from Štiglic who finished with six kills in the set. Helgesen posted a team-high seven kills in the frame. The Aggies eventually closed out the set on the defensive side as Štiglic and Larkin teamed up for the block to seal the 25-20 win to go up 2-0 for the match. 

Set Three
The Aggies again pressed the issue in the third set, running out to a 9-3 lead. Simovski and Helgesen each scored aces during the run while Simovski and Štiglic each added a pair of kills. CSU responded with a 7-2 stretch to draw back within one before USU again put their foot down with a 5-1 run again featuring kills from all three of Štiglic, Simovski and Helgesen. The Rams would not come within three points of the lead again as USU used a 4-1 late run to salt away the set with Barlow providing a pair of kills.  Helgesen ultimately provided the clinching kill to secure the 25-19 win and clinch the tournament title for Utah State. Simovski and Helgesen both posted five kills in the final set while Štiglic registered a team-high six kills.

Quick Notes

• Utah State also extended their overall winning streak to 21 matches, the third-longest streak in program history, trailing only a 23-game streak spanning the team's 1978 national title season and 1979, and a program-record 26-game streak in 1978. USU's streak is now tied for the fourth-longest active streak in the nation.
• Utah State hit .420 for the match, their 11th-straight match recording a .250 hitting percentage or better. The Aggies are now hitting .274 on the season, a mark which would break the current program record of .238 set in 2016.
• USU's .420 hitting percentage also set a MW record for hitting percentage in the tournament final, topping the previous mark of .409 set by Colorado State last year.
• Helgesen and Štiglic tied for the team lead with 16 kills apiece. Helgesen hit .483 on 29 attempts while Štiglic recorded a .353 hitting percentage on 34 attempts.
• Simovski recorded her second double-double of the tournament, posting 11 kills on a .526 hitting percentage alongside 14 digs. 
• Kofe finished with 40 assists and added seven digs and a team-high three aces.
• Junior libero/defensive specialist Kendel Thompson finished with nine digs and six assists.
• Larkin and Helgesen tied for the team lead with three blocks eeach. 
• Utah State is now 5-3 all-time at the Mountain West Tournament. All of USU's wins have come in years when the Aggies have won the tournament.

Up Next
The Aggies will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament next week. USU's opponent and location will be revealed during the selection show on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 4 p.m. (MT).

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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