LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball fought valiantly, including a spirited rally to take the opening set, before ultimately falling to No. 10 Texas A&M, 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-14, 25-19) on Friday night at the Wayne Estes Center. 
 
Set One
The visiting Aggies looked the part of a top-10 team from the get-go, immediately opening up an 11-4 lead to begin the match. Facing an early hole, Utah State showed their mettle, slowly eating into TAMU's lead before erupting for a 10-2 burst to jump in front at 19-17. Back-to-back kills from sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe firmly put momentum on USU's side during the run while sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen capped the run with a pair of kills sandwiching a pair of blocks, with sophomore middle blocker Ava Napierski also joining in on one of the rejections. After Texas A&M scored consecutive points to tie it at 19, sophomore outside hitters Mara Štiglic and Andrea Simovski each recorded a kill before Helgesen and Napierski registered another block to give Utah State their biggest lead of the set at 22-19. A&M clawed back within a point twice but were staved off by kills from Helgesen and senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow before an out-of-rotation error from TAMU sealed the 25-23 win for Utah State.
 
Set Two
USU proved the opening set not to be a fluke as the two sides wrestled for control in the second frame. Neither team led by more than a single point until a kill from Barlow pushed the home side ahead at 12-10. A pair of Napierski kills maintained USU's lead from Texas A&M jumped in front with a 4-0 burst. The home Aggies responded with a kill from Simovski and an ace from junior libero/defensive specialist Kendel Thompson to even the set. In the closing stages with the set tied at 20, however, Texas A&M managed the 5-1 run to take the set, 25-21, and even the match at one set apiece.
 
Set Three
Utah State again started strong in the third set, with a solo block from Kofe capping off an early 4-1 run for the home squad. A&M answered immediately with an 8-1 run, further cementing control moments later with a 7-1 stretch. The lead proved insurmountable as the visitors took a 25-14 win to go up, 2-1.
 
Set Four
Texas A&M maintained momentum by way of a 6-1 run to open up the fourth set. USU clawed back with a 4-1 stretch featuring kills from Napierski, Štiglic and Simovski, but were unable to further tighten the contest as TAMU re-extended the lead to four points. Midway through the set, a block from Napierski and a kill from Štiglic narrowed the deficit to a single point before Texas A&M closed the door with a 6-1 burst. Simovski registered a pair of kills in the final moments but USU was unable to mount another comeback as A&M clinched the match with a 25-19 win.
 
Quick Notes

• Utah State hit .220 for the match, including a .407 mark in the fourth set. Simovski led the charge, hitting .276 and posting a team-high 13 kills. Simovski also led the team with a pair of service aces.
• Helgesen also reached the double-digit plateau in kills, finishing with 10 and tying for the team lead alongside Napierski with four blocks, including one solo block apiece.
• Kofe again led USU with 37 assists, also adding five digs and two blocks, including one solo.
• Thompson posted 13 digs to lead the team, her third match this season with double-digit digs. USU finished with 32 digs as a team, 16 of which came in the team's opening-set victory.

 
Up Next
The Aggies return to action tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 6, to host in-state foe No. 21-ranked Utah at 7 p.m. (MT), at the Wayne Estes Center.
 
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.
 
 - USU -