SANTA BARBARA, California – Utah State volleyball fought tough against Iowa State but ultimately fell 3-1 on Friday night at the Thunderdome.

Set One
Iowa State, currently eight spots out of the AVCA Top 25 rankings, made the first move of the match, gradually building a lead before using a 3-0 burst to go up by five midway through the opening set. USU responded with a 5-1 stretch as senior middle blocker Sophie Scott scored an ace while senior right side hitter Lauren Bodily and junior middle blocker Ava Napierski combined for a block to help the Aggies close the gap to a single point. ISU answered the comeback attempt, however, with a 4-1 spurt to re-establish control. Junior outside hitter Olivia Ruy registered a pair of kills late in the frame but the Aggies were unable to again threaten the lead as Iowa State won 25-20.
 
Set Two
After ISU scored three-straight to go up 6-4 early in the second set, the Aggies awoke with an 8-1 blitz kickstarted by alternating kills by junior outside hitter Sami Blackett and aces by sophomore libero/defensive specialist Lily LaFlesch. Following a third Blackett kill, Scott and junior outside hitter Ava Nakai added a block before Blackett capped the run with a solo block of her own to put USU up 12-7. ISU would not come closer than four points of the Aggies through the rest of the frame. Blackett posted another pair of kills late and freshman right side hitter Madi Rich made her collegiate debut and recorded a kill to help USU close out a 25-17 victory to tie up the match.


Set Three
The Aggies looked to build upon their second-set victory but the Cyclones opened up the first sizeable lead in the third frame, scoring three-straight to head into the media timeout with a 15-10 lead. Utah State came back to the court and went on a 7-3 run featuring a pair of kills from Blackett to cut the deficit to one. After alternating several points, USU tied the match at 21 following a block by Blackett and Napierski and a Blackett kill. The Aggies tied the match a fourth five times, fighting off three Cyclone set points, but were unable to complete the comeback as Iowa State took a 28-26 victory.

Set Four
Blackett opened the fourth frame with an ace followed by a block by Nakai and Scott to establish a multi-point lead for USU. The two sides exchanged runs as ISU jumped in front a 3-0 burst before the Aggies answered with a 3-0 burst as Napierski posted a kill and block alongside Nakai to maintain the lead. The Cyclones again answered, using a pair of 3-0 burst to jump back in front by two. Blackett then powered a 5-1 Aggie run with two kills and an ace to give USU a 21-19 lead. Iowa State scored five-straight points to take a 24-21 lead. Utah State fought off back-to-back match points, including via a kill by Ruy, and seemingly tied the set at 24 before a coach's challenge reversed the final point to give Iowa State a 25-23 win to clinch the match.

Quick Notes

• Utah State hit .210 as a team and registered 46 kills with 43 assists, plus 56 digs, nine blocks and five aces.
• Blackett led the Aggies with a season-high 19 kills on a .357 hitting percentage, recording a double-double with 12 digs and adding two aces and two blocks.
• Sophomore setter Silina Damuni also recorded a double-double with 18 assists and 12 digs. Senior setter Olivia Tukuafu added 17 assists.
• Ruy finished second on the team with a season-high 11 kills on a .276 hitting percentage.
• Napierski posted a team-high five blocks while Nakai and Scott each added three blocks. Nakai added seven kills while Napierski and Scott each added three kills.
• LaFlesch finished with a team-high 18 digs and added five assists and two aces.
• Rich finished with two kills and a dig in her college debut.

Up Next
Utah State (0-4, 0-0 Pac-12) faces off against UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Sept. 5, 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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