LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball fell in its Pac-12 opener at Texas State, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-23) on Thursday night at Strahan Arena.
Set One
The Aggies came out of the gates hot, using a quick 5-0 burst to take the early advantage. Balance was the offensive key as juniors outside hitter
Olivia Ruy, outside hitter
Sami Blackett and middle blocker
Ava Napierski contributed kills during the run. USU maintained the pressure, scoring another four unanswered including another Blackett kill plus an ace from sophomore defensive specialist
Sadie Warren. The Aggie lead grew as large as eight following another 3-0 burst bookended by a pair of kills by Napierski. Texas State slowly chipped away at the lead, using 5-1 and 4-0 runs to trim the deficit to a single point. Utah State turned the tide with kills from Ruy and Blackett before the Bobcats twice scored three-straight to jump ahead. Junior outside hitter
Ava Nakai posted a kill as part of back-to-back points as USU fought late for the comeback but the home side took the 25-23 win.
Set Two
The second set proved far more even as neither side led by more than two points until the final stages. USU looked poised to take control with three-straight points midway through the set following a Ruy kill and back-to-back kills from Blackett, but the Bobcats responded with a 3-0 burst of their own. Texas State eventually built a three-point lead at 21-18. Blackett posted two kills down the stretch but the Bobcats managed to close out a 25-20 win to go up 2-0.
Set Three
USU scored the first three points of the third set with senior middle blocker
Sophie Scott posting a pair of kills. The Aggies took firmer control with another three-point burst. Blackett posted back-to-back blocks, first alongside Scott and then Napierski, before sophomore libero/defensive specialist
Lily LaFlesch added an ace to extend Utah State's lead. USU led by as many as five at 14-9 following kills from Ruy and Blackett before Texas State battled back with a 6-1 stretch to tie the set. The Bobcats added another 3-0 burst to jump back ahead but Nakai and Ruy recorded back-to-back kills to again tie the set at 19. The Aggies retook the lead following a Blackett kill and Bobcat attack error before having the set again tied at 23. Texas State then scored on back-to-back kills for a 25-23 win to clinch the match.
Quick Notes
- Utah State hit .254 as a team, their second-highest percentage on the year, and finished with 44 kills with 41 assists plus 42 digs, three blocks and three aces.
- Blackett led the Aggies with 15 kills while hitting .231 on 39 total attempts, also adding five digs, an ace and two blocks, tying for the team lead in blocks alongside Scott.
- Nakai and Ruy narrowly missed double-digit kills, finishing with nine and eight, respectively.
- Sophomore setter Silina Damuni posted 38 assists and recorded her fourth-straight double-double with 14 digs.
- LaFlesch finished with 11 digs, her ninth match with 10 or more digs this season.
Up Next
Utah State (1-10, 0-1 Pac-12) returns to Club Estes to host Gonzaga on Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon (MT) in USU's first home Pac-12 contest.
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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