LOGAN, Utah – In another battle against a tournament-caliber team, Utah State volleyball fell to Utah 3-0 on Friday night at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.
Set One
In front of 3,499 fans, the second-largest crowd in program history, the Aggies faced an early hole as Utah opened a 10-5 lead early in set one. A solo block from senior middle blocker
Sophie Scott halted the Ute run while kills from junior outside hitters
Sami Blackett and
Ava Nakai helped USU cut the deficit down to two points. The Utes retook control with a 7-0 burst but Utah State continued to battle, fighting off multiple set points late via a kill from Blackett and a block by Scott and Nakai, but Utah ultimately took the opening set, 25-17.
Set Two
The Aggies carried over the momentum from the end of the first set into the second, scoring four of the first five points. After Utah answered back to take a two-point lead, USU countered with three kills from Blackett plus a block from Nakai and junior middle blocker
Ava Napierski to jump back in front. Another Ute run proved too much to overcome, however, as Utah scored six-straight points. Blackett, Nakai and sophomore outside hitter
Addy Cook each posted kills in a comeback attempt before Utah closed out a 25-19 win.
Set Three
Utah State again opened the set scoring four of the first five points, including kills from Blackett and Nakai. The Aggies led by as many as four points following back-to-back blocks from freshman middle blocker
Taytum Nelson, first alongside sophomore setter
Silina Damuni and then alongside Nakai. Utah slowly battled back to take a 15-14 lead at the media timeout, but the Aggies answered in the latter half of the set with a 4-1 spurt featuring kills from Blackett and Nelson before a block from Blackett and Napierski put USU up 19-17. Down the closing stretch, Utah earned four-straight sideouts off Aggie serves as part of scoring eight out of the last 12 points to claim the match with a 25-23 win.
Quick Notes
- Blackett led the Aggies with 13 kills while adding four digs and two blocks.
- Nakai finished with six kills and tied for the team lead in blocks alongside Scott with three apiece.
- Damuni posted a team-high 24 assists, one off her career high, and narrowly missed a double-double with nine digs and a block.
- Sophomore libero/defensive specialist Lily LaFlesch again led the team with 11 digs and added three assists.
- Napierski and Nelson each finished with two blocks as USU had five players record multiple blocks for the second-straight match.
Up Next
Utah State (0-7, 0-0 Pac-12) faces a trio of in-state opponents in one week. Utah State begins on the road at Weber State on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m. (MT), before hosting Utah Valley in Club Estes on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. (MT). USU will then head south for a matchup against former head coach Rob Neilson and No. 25 BYU on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. (MT).
Tickets
Season tickets, single-game tickets and the USU women's sports pass 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.
- USU -
