USU volleyball hosts UVSC for non-conference match
Erin Graybill. Dominique Arsenault. Marijana Kordic. Not the most recognizable names from the Utah State women’s volleyball roster, but they are definitely making an impact on the team.
Graybill has earned a starting position first in the absence of Zuzana Cernianska because of an elbow injury and now Beth Hodge because of a rotator cuff strain.
Arsenault has become a viable replacement for setter Andrea Delsigne when she needs a rest or an different person on the court.
And Kordic has mostly seen playing time when USU is in control of the match or needs a change of momentum.
“Those guys have earned their playing time,” said Utah State Head Coach Burt Fuller. “Marijana has been doing some good things in practice. It was nice to get her some court experience because at some point we are probably going to need her.”
Although the point may not be Tuesday’s non-league match against UVSC at 6 p.m. in the Spectrum, it may come this season or in years to come.
Kordic recorded one kill in a brief stunt on the floor Saturday against UC Riverside.
The 6-foot-2-inch freshman from Rijeka, Croatia played two years on the top divisional team in Rijeka and advanced to the Regional Championships both years.
Arsenault recorded two digs in her time on the floor against the Highlanders. Fuller said having the freshman from Quebec City, Quebec play the right back position and having Delsigne in at the same time has given the regular setter the opportunity to take a few swings.
And Delsigne doesn’t mind at all.
“Defensively it helps a lot [to have Aresenault in at the same time],” Delsigne said. “She gets a lot of digs. If I dig the ball it is just like having me out there again for her setting the ball. It’s really nice.”
Graybill recorded three kills on 12 attempts, with two digs and one block Saturday. Her numbers aren’t stellar, but she is becoming a solid force on the left side.
Graybill’s best performance as an Aggie to date came against UC Irvine when she had six kills, nine digs and one block.
She transferred from BYU where she was a redshirt her first season, and then played in 20 matches her second year as a Cougar. She recorded 55 kills, 21 digs and 31 total blocks on the season.
Although Fuller said the team hasn’t looked at the tape of UVSC yet, he is confident the team will treat it just like any other match.
“We have to prepare for that match like we prepare for any others,” he said. “I don’t know if that match will help us if we win, but it could really hurt us if we lose. We want to be efficient. We want to have some confidence going up to Idaho next week.”
Fuller said he believed UVSC was one of the top junior college programs before becoming a four-year team. He said it still has some of its talented players left over.
-juag@cc.usu.edu