LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball (22-5, 15-1 Mountain West) honored its senior for Senior Night in the best way possible: a sweep over San José State (12-16, 3-12 MW) in front of a sold-out crowd.
“You can’t write a better ending,” head coach Rob Neilson said. “We got to start seven seniors. Everybody played really, really well. It was just a complete game from our team. I got a little weepy about midway through the third game thinking about when this group started here three, four years ago, what was going on in this gym and then what they’ve created since. This is just an unbelievably special group of people. I’m so grateful to our fans who honor them and have supported them and have come out and shown out. We’ve still got more to do and we’re excited for what’s to come in the next few weeks. But, what a great way to send the seniors out.”
Prior to the match, USU honored its seven seniors in Kennedi Boyd, Shelby Capllonch, Jordi Holdaway, Inka Mehtola, Beatriz Rodrigues, Jill Schneggenburger and Tatum Stall. The senior class has been part of three Mountain West championship teams, including the 2023 outright regular season champions, 2022 tournament champions and claiming a share of the regular season title in 2021.
“It felt magical,” Rodrigues said. “Playing at the Estes is just amazing. It’s different from anything. The fans are incredible. People just come and show you how much they love you. The support is amazing. And we got the win. It feels good to share the court with them for one last time in here, and we won, so I couldn’t be happier.”
Stall led the Aggies in Thursday’s match, logging 15 kills while hitting .500. Both Aggie setters had double-digit assists as sophomore Leah Wilton-LaBoy had 18 and Rodrigues had 15. Rodrigues logged her 100th career service ace, becoming the seventh player in program history to accomplish the feat.
Defensively, USU was led by Capllonch with 11 digs, while Stall and senior middle blocker Kelsey Watson each logged a match-high-tying two blocks.
SJSU scored the opening point of set one, but that would be its only lead in the set. After the Spartans trimmed the Aggies’ lead to one, a 9-2 USU run, highlighted by kills from Boyd and junior opposite side hitter Adna Mehmedovic, along with a Capllonch ace, extended Utah State’s lead to 21-13. San José State responded with a 3-0 run, but Utah State countered with four-straight points, featuring kills from Stall and Schneggenburger, along with Rodrigues’ 100th career ace, for the 25-16 victory.
Hammers from Capllonch and Boyd bookended a 6-1 start for the Aggies in set two. After some back and forth, a 10-1 USU run, highlighted by kills from Capllonch, Mehmedovic and Stall, as well as a Boyd and Stall block, gave Utah State set point 24-11. The Spartans scored once more before a Boyd hammer clinched the 25-12 win.
The teams traded points to start things off in set three before a 9-1 USU run, bookended by Stall kills, put Utah State on top 18-9. After some back and forth, a 3-0 USU run, featuring a Mehmedovic hammer and Capllonch ace, put the Aggies at match point 24-15. The Spartans scored the next three points before the final hammer from Boyd secured the 25-18 victory.
Overall, USU hit .386 (48-9-101), while SJSU hit .103 (23-14-87).
The Aggies, who have now won 12-straight matches, will next face Fresno State (16-10, 10-5 MW) on the road on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. (MT).
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.
