Volleyball still hot despite first lost of 2010 season
Talk about a bittersweet weekend.
The Utah State volleyball team (12-1) went 2-1 in the Utah State Invitational this weekend, defeating Loyola Marymount and UC-Riverside at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan while falling to Utah Valley University.
Friday’s loss to the Wolverines was the Aggies’ first of the season, snapping an 11-0 start that matched the third-best start in school history. Both junior outside hitter Liz McArthur and senior libero Christine Morrill represented the Aggies on the all-tournament team. Loyola Marymount outside hitter Felicia Arriola was named the tournament’s MVP.
The Aggies began the weekend on Friday morning with a five-set victory (25-16, 18-25, 25-19, 22-25, 16-14) over Loyola Marymount, led by 22 kills from McArthur. Sophomore outside hitter Josselyn White posted her first career double-double with 12 kills and a career-high 12 digs.
The surprise event of the showcase was the Aggies’ Friday night defeat (25-16, 29-27, 25-27, 23-25, 18-20) at the hands of the Wolverines (8-6), who extended their own winning streak to six before falling to Loyola Marymount on Saturday. It was also surprising considering the Aggies began the match with a 2-0 set advantage.
“That’s the way in-state matches are,” said USU head coach Grayson DuBose. “They’re very emotional and highly-charged. That is pretty typical of just about every (in-state) match we play.”
Wolverine senior outside hitter Kayli Doxey had a match-high 26 kills during the five-set match, which saw three of the sets go into extra points. Eight of the kills came in a critical fourth set that saw 28 ties and 11 lead changes – only to precede a fifth set that saw six kills from Doxey, 42 ties, and 17 lead changes.
“We were on our heels because their record and invincibility scared us a bit, but seeing we could hang with them that second game really motivated us,” said Doxey. “We saw what BYU did to them (in an Aggie win Sept. 14 in Provo), being able to tie it up at 2-2, so we thought we could do it.”
USU’s Liz McAthur was complimentary of the tournament’s MVP. “She’s a big hitter and likes to swing hard, and she’s good at hitting it off the block. We tried to get our hands over so we could block her, but she kept swinging,” McArthur said.
Wolverine sophomore Erica Nish, who led her team with seven blocks and made several critical stops on the Aggies’ powerful outside hitters, was not reluctant to appreciate the upset.
“It felt really good – I’m not going to lie, to break their winning streak,” she said. “If we can remember this win tonight and bring it to other games when we get in a rut, we can pull (those) out.”
The win was especially sweet for local product Jaicee Kuresa, a UVU junior who attended Mountain Crest High School. Kuresa had several family and friends come to the Spectrum in support of her.
“It was a big game for us,” said the outside hitter, who had six blocks in the thriller. “Utah State was 11-0. We knew we needed to come ready, and we were slow at first, but recovered.”
Significant to that recovery and the critical fourth-set swing was the loss of White to what DuBose later called a “mild concussion.” The 6’3” Sky View product tried to stay in the game despite a bloody nose, but soon had to be removed and evaluated. According to DuBose, she should be ready for game action again next week. True freshman Tumua Etimani entered the match in her stead and also started the next day’s contest against UC-Riverside.
“I was really nervous, but I gave it my all and tried hard,” said Etimani of her first-time experience of playing at home.
DuBose was pleased with Etimani’s play, but did acknowledge the need for a change of tempo in Saturday’s quick turnaround win (25-17, 20-25, 26-24, 26-24) against the 1-11 Highlanders. After a draw through two sets against the struggling team from the Sunshine State, DuBose inserted junior Emily Kortsen into the lineup. Kortsen, who usually plays opposite hitter, filled White’s position nicely, providing six kills and hitting .750 in the decisive fourth set.
“We showed some character. We could have folded our tent, and packed it up and left, but we didn’t,” DuBose said.
“I was glad I was able to step up and help,” Kortsen said. “When our passes are good, we can execute.”
Among those teammates that helped set Kortsen for the daggers was senior Chelsea Fowles.
“(Kortsen’s timely play) was a huge deal. I feel comfortable playing with Emily and setting for her,” Fowles said.
UCR coach Ron Larsen, however, credited USU’s established record as the main reason for the Aggie win.
“(Utah State) has probably played more quality matches than we have right now, so they probably have more of a habit of winning,” said Larsen.
Kortsen and others’ late-game play down the stretch was badly needed, considering the final two sets went into extra points, and especially considering the Aggies were on the verge of playing their fourth straight five-set match within a five day span.
“I didn’t want to go to five (sets),” Kortsen said. “I got two good passes, and was able to close it out that way. Now we get some rest before we go to Hawaii.”
The Aggies will begin conference play at nationally-ranked WAC foe Hawaii on Thursday.
“We’re ready for it. Our goal is to win the WAC, so that’s what we’re going to do,” said USU middle blocker Shantell Durant. “We’re probably in better shape than we’ve been the past couple of years.”
– rhett.wilkinson@aggiemail.usu.edu