OGDEN, Utah – Utah State stormed back from 2-1 down to win an exhibition match against Weber State, 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-23, 15-10) on Saturday afternoon at Swenson Gym.
Set One
In the first action of 2025 for either side, Weber State took early 3-0 and 8-4 leads to begin the opening set. After the Aggies battled back with a 5-1 spurt to tie it at 9-9, the Wildcats again jumped in front with a 4-0 run. Utah State fought back to tie it and take a one-point lead on multiple occasions but following a 23-23 tie late in the set, WSU claimed a pair of points to take the opening frame, 25-23.
Set Two
The Aggies answered back immediately in set two, utilizing a 4-0 run to take control midway through the set. Another 5-0 burst, capped by an ace from sophomore outside hitter
Andrea Simovski, pushed USU's advantage to eight points as the Aggies closed out a 25-17 victory to even the match at one set apiece.
Set Three
USU's momentum continued as the Aggies jumped out to an 8-4 lead. The Wildcats, however, responded with a 12-4 stretch to take their own four-point lead. After falling behind by as many as six, Utah State clawed back within three points late in the set but were ultimately unable to overcome the deficit as WSU won, 25-19, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set Four
Needing to win to force a fifth set, the Aggies used a 5-1 burst to take a 9-5 lead early in the fourth set. After the Wildcats bounced back to tie the set at 10 all, neither side was able to build a multi-point lead until an ace from freshman defensive specialist
Sadie Warren helped USU to build an 18-15 lead via a 3-0 run. Weber State responded with a late 4-0 run to jump back in front at 22-21. In the decisive moments of the set, redshirt freshmen middle blocker
Lauren Larking and opposite side hitter
Sophie Danielson each scored a kill to spur USU on to a 25-23 win to advance the match to a fifth set.
Set Five
In the final frame, Utah State scored the opening six points as sophomore outside hitter
Ava Nakai notched a kill and service ace to lead the Aggies on the run. Utah State fought off the final rally from WSU, with freshman middle blocker
Ava Martin supplying the final kill to give USU the 15-10 set victory.
Quick Notes
- Simovski led the Aggies with 13 kills on 26 attempts, hitting .269 while also adding a team-high three service aces. Sophomore outside hitter Mara Stiglic added nine kills and freshman outside hitter Hailey Spencer posted eight kills while hitting .467. Danielson led USU with an .833 hitting percentage, registering five kills on six attempts.
- Larkin posted a team-best three blocks, including one solo.
- Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Jagoda Bialek recorded 13 digs to lead the team, while junior libero/defensive specialist Kendel Thompson added 11 digs.
- Sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe led the team with 31 assists, also adding eight digs. Junior setter Olivia Tukuafu added 17 assists.
- As a team, the Aggies hit .204 (62-30-157), recording 62 kills on 59 assists. USU also held WSU to a .150 hitting percentage for the match.
Up Next
The Aggies open the season with a three-match weekend at the Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Classic in Honolulu, Hawai'i. The team will open the season versus San Diego on Friday, Aug. 29, before facing tournament-host Hawaii on Saturday, Aug. 30, and closing the weekend against Marquette on Sunday, Aug. 31. All three opponents received votes in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Top 25 Preseason Poll.
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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