OGDEN, Utah – Utah State volleyball fell to Weber State in a five-set battle on Tuesday night at Swensen Gym.

Set One
After kills from juniors outside hitter Sami Blackett and middle blocker Ava Napierski to open the match at a 2-2 tie, Weber State went on a 14-1 run to take a command lead in the opening set from which USU was unable to claw back as the Wildcats took a 25-12 win.

Set Two
The Aggies rebounded in the second frame with an early 7-1 run featuring three kills by junior outside hitter Olivia Ruy. Another 4-0 burst including a kill and back-to-back aces from Blackett pushed Utah State's lead to seven points at 12-5. After the Wildcats clawed back within two points, Blackett turned the tide with skill before senior middle blocker Sophie Scott added a kill and junior outside hitter Justyna Novakova posted an ace to re-establish control for USU. A late 7-1 Wildcat threatened the Aggie lead before sophomore outside hitter Addy Cook sealed a 25-23 win for Utah State with a kill.

Set Three
Utah State again started fast as a Scott kill and Novakova ace set the tone for USU to build a multi-point lead to begin the set. Weber State drew back within one at 9-8 before a 5-1 Aggie burst featuring two Ruy kills and an ace from sophomore libero/defensive specialist Lily LaFlesch gave the visitors a sizable lead. This time, the Aggies maintained the advantage throughout as the Wildcats never came closer than three points as USU went up 2-1 with a 25-18 win. 

Set Four
The Wildcats made the first move of the fourth set, scoring four of the first five points. Blackett kickstarted a 5-1 Aggie burst with three kills with Napierski adding another and sophomore defensive specialist Sadie Warren posting an ace, giving USU a one-point lead midway through the frame. A late 5-0 burst from Weber State, however, proved critical as the Wildcats pushed the match to five sets with a 25-23 win.

Set Five
The Wildcats took control of the decisive frame with four of the first five points, adding another 3-0 burst later in the set. USU fought back within two following back-to-back Cook kills and another ace from Blackett, but the deficit proved too much to overcome in the shortened set as Weber State took the match with a 15-10 victory.

Quick Notes

• Blackett and Ruy led the team with 15 kills apiece while Cook added another 12, USU's first match this season with three players each accruing double-digit kills.
• Sophomore setter Silina Damuni set a career high with 48 assists, far surpassing her previous mark of 25.
• Damuni also finished with a double-double with 11 digs, also adding an ace and two kills. Blackett made it two Aggies with double-doubles, finishing with 11 digs plus a career-high four aces and two assists.
• LaFlesch set a career-high with 20 digs and tied her career high with two aces.
• Novakova set new career-best marks with 13 digs and two aces.
• Napierski posted a career-high nine kills, tying her career-best mark of a .500 hitting percentage, and added a team-high three blocks.
• Utah State hit .212 as a team and recorded a season-high 11 aces. 

Up Next
Utah State (0-8, 0-0 Pac-12) continues a string of four-straight in-state opponents when they host Utah Valley in Club Estes on Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7 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.

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