SAN DIEGO – Utah State volleyball lost to San Diego State 3-2 (24-26, 25-27, 26-24, 20-25, 15-13) on Thursday night at Peterson Gym.
Set One
In a tight battle featuring four sets decided by two points, the opening frame was no different. USU made the first move of the match with a 7-1 run featuring aces from junior outside hitter
Sami Blackett and junior middle blocker
Ava Napierski. The Aztecs slowly ate away at the lead before tying the match at 23-23. The Aggies then scored three our of four points to close the set, including kills from Blackett and junior outside hitter
Olivia Ruy, to take a 26-24 win.
Set Two
Utah State again jumped ahead to begin the second set, using a 4-1 run out of the gates powered by a pair of aces from junior outside hitter
Justyna Novakova. SDSU battled back with a 4-0 run but USU answered right back with a 5-0 burst powered by a pair of kills from Ruy plus a block by Napierski and Blackett. San Diego State once again tied the set late at 24 all before Utah State again scored three out of the final four points to claim the set with Napierski and sophomore setter
Silina Damuni combining for a block to set up a Blackett ace for the clinching point in a 27-25 victory.
Set Three
USU used an early 5-1 run to take the first sizable lead of the third set before the Aztecs climbed back with a 5-1 stretch of their own. The Aggies retook the lead with a 4-0 burst that included back-to-back blocks from Ruy and junior middle blocker
Solia Angilau. A 7-2 closing stretch from SDSU, however, resulted in a 26-24 win for the home side to send the match to a fourth set.
Set Four
This time, the Aztecs jumped out in front early, building a 10-4 lead before USU immediately erased the deficit with a 6-0 run. Angilau and Damuni combined for a pair of blocks during the run while the defense forced three Aztec attack errors. SDSU used a 4-0 run to again jump ahead late in the set. Junior outside hitter
Ava Nakai recorded a kill before Ruy and Angilau again teamed up for back-to-back blocks as USU battled back but SDSU scored three-straight to take the fourth set 25-20.
Set Five
A solo Angilau block and another ace from Novakova gave USU an early lead before the Aztecs scored four unanswered to jump in front. After the Aggies came back to tie the set at 7-7, SDSU then used a 5-2 stretch to jump ahead for good. USU twice cut the deficit to a single point in the final stages but were unable to fully erase the deficit as SDSU took a 15-13 win for a 3-2 victory.
Quick Notes
- Angilau led USU with a career-high 10 blocks, the first Aggie with double-digit blocks since sophomore middle blocker Ava Martin recorded 10 blocks against SDSU last season. Angilau also added seven kills and three digs.
- Utah State recorded 17 blocks as a team, tied for the most by USU since recording 18 blocks against Colorado State in 2021.
- Ruy led the Aggies with 17 kills and added seven digs while tying her career-high with six blocks.
- Blackett added 15 kills alongside two aces, six digs and four blocks.
- Nakai finished with a season-high 12 kills and added three digs and two blocks.
- Napierski posted a season-high seven blocks and added six kills and an ace.
- Damuni returned to the lineup and recorded a double-double with 43 assists and a career-high 18 digs, also adding two kills.
- Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Lily LaFlesch posted 16 digs and seven assists.
- Novakova led the Aggies and tied her career-high with three aces, her second three-ace match this season.
- Sophomore defensive specialist Sadie Warren added eight digs plus one assist and ace.
Up Next
The Aggies (3-13, 2-4 Pac-12) continue a four-match road trip at Colorado State on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 1 p.m. (MT).
Tickets
Season and single-game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through
the USU online ticket office.
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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