LOGAN, Utah – Utah State went to five sets for the fifth consecutive match, tying a program record, but ultimately fell short in their Mountain West opener to Colorado State, 3-2 (25-15, 22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 15-12), on Thursday night at the Wayne Estes Center.
Set One
Colorado State, picked in the preseason to win the MW, proved why in the beginning, opening the match with a 5-1 run. The Aggies fought back to one-point deficits on multiple occasions before the Rams responded with a 7-1 to take firm control of the set en route to a 25-15 win.
Set Two
In the second frame, it was the Aggies who took early control, using a 5-1 run to take the lead before a 5-0 USU run pushed the Aggies out to a 12-6 lead. CSU slowly crept back into the mix, eventually retaking the lead after a 6-1 burst. In the final stages, however, a trio of kills from junior Tierney Barlow and freshmen Loryn Helgesen and Andrea Simovski spurred USU on a 4-0 run to catapult back in front for a 25-22 win to tie the match at one set apiece.
Set Three
The Rams pounced early again in set three with a 6-1 opening stretch. CSU led by as many as eight points before USU attempted a comeback with a 4-0 spurt. Colorado State maintained its lead, however, and eventually took the set, 25-18.
Set Four
After battling back-and-forth to begin the fourth set, the Aggies took an early advantage with a 6-0 run with freshman Mara Štiglic at the service line. After leading by as many as five points, however, the Rams responded in force with an 8-1 blitz to retake the lead. After USU punched back with a 3-0 run to jump back in front, CSU again caught fire in a 6-1 stretch to take a 22-18 lead. Needing a comeback to force a fifth set, USU responded with a 5-0 burst with Štiglic again manning the service line. After the two sides alternated points, senior Adna Mehmedovic put the Aggies in front with a kill before clinching the set with a solo block for the 27-25 win.
Set Five
Utah State fell behind in the early stages of the final set as CSU built an 8-4 lead before the teams switched sides. As they have repeatedly done in tight contests, the Aggies battled back with a 3-0 stretch featuring a pair of aces from sophomore Kendel Thompson. With USU trailing by a single point, however, the Rams returned serve with a 3-0 run, ultimately building a 14-10 lead. Utah State continued to fight with kills from Helgesen and freshman Delaney Lawson before the Rams found the clinching point for the 15-12 victory.
Quick Notes
- The Aggies have now gone the full five sets in five consecutive matches for only the second time in program history. USU previously went five sets with Ohio, BYU, Utah Valley and Weber State prior to Thursday’s match against CSU. Utah State last went five sets in five straight matches in 1989.
- Helgesen led the Aggies with 13 kills on the night, recording a .391 hitting percentage on 23 attempts. Mehmedovic was the lone other Aggie with double-figure kills, finishing with 10.
- Sophomore Kendel Thompson finished one dig off her career-high, posting a team-high 13 digs. Thompson also tied for the team lead with Štiglic with two service aces apiece.
- Barlow posted a season-high seven blocks, including one solo, to lead the Aggies. Barlow also finished with a team-best .400 hitting percentage, recording eight kills on 15 attempts.
- Freshman Kaylie Kofe again led USU with 27 assists, while freshman Kate Lijic finished second on the team with 14.
- Utah State is now 3-2 in conference openers under head coach Rob Neilson, having only lost previously in Neilson’s first season with the team in the spring of 2021.
Up Next
Utah State remains at home to host Wyoming on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m. The Cowgirls fell on the road to Nevada, 3-2, to begin their conference season.
