Volleyball to open WAC play in Spectrum
After opening the season with three consecutive road trips to tournaments and earning a 3-6 record, USU’s volleyball team begins the Western Athletic Conference schedule with a Thursday night home opener against the Boise State Broncos. The game begins at 7 p.m.
Boise comes in with a 3-5 record, including 0-2 on the road. The Broncos recently lost to UC Davis and San Francisco, despite the best efforts of freshman middle blocker Sadie Maughan, who is hitting for a .317 average and scoring 2.25 kills per game. As a team, Boise is hitting .160 on the year compared to a healthy .206 average by their opponents. Boise has plenty of experience, with five starters back from a team that tied for sixth place in the WAC last year and amassed a 13-17 record.
Utah State will be leaning heavily on the play of Amanda Nielson and Melissa Osterloh as the team tries to improve on a 16-15 all-time record in home openers. Nielson was named to the all-tournament team in each of the three preseason tournaments USU played in, and the senior opposite side hitter averages 5.39 points per game. Osterloh averages 4.22 points per game.
Although the Aggies and Broncos split their games last year, with both teams winning on their own home court, Utah State has won eight of the last nine in the series. Nielson and middle blocker Melissa Larson, both all-WAC last year, will be trying to make it nine out of 10 against the Broncs.
On Saturday night, a more difficult challenge awaits in the form of a 6-3 San Jose State team. The Spartans have recent wins over Arizona State and Weber State under their collective belts, but will be looking for their first road win at the expense of USU and preseason all-WAC performer Nielson. Junior middle blocker Colleen Burke is the Spartan’s best player, hitting for a hefty .444 average and averaging 2.62 kills per game.
Last year, SJSU finished 19-12 overall and tied for fourth place in the WAC. Four starters are back from that team, which split its games against Utah State. San Jose is hitting .239 percent this year, against .167 by their opponents. USU will be looking to improve on their all-time record against the Spartans, which is 4-14-1.
-graham.terry@aggiemail.usu.edu