Aggies end the season with pair of losses on the road
USU volleyball finished out their 2018 regular season with two road matches that both ended in defeat.
The first match of the week-long road play began on Tuesday against Boise State. The match ended in a five-set heartbreak as the first four sets were split down the middle, but the Aggies were beat out by the Broncos in the fifth and final set. This loss for Utah State put them at 5-23 overall and 3-14 in league play, and set Boise State at 18-10 and 10-7 in conference play.
Highlights from the match included senior setter Kassidy Johnson recording 49 assists and 20 digs, making that her 12th double-double of the season. The attack on Utah State’s end was lead by a trio of teammates who each had double-digit kills. Sophomores Bailey Downing had 15 and Gabbi Shumway recorded 12, and freshman outside Whitney Solosabal racked up 14 kills of her own. Freshman middle Preslee Johnson led her team with six blocks, and a career-high of three solo blocks. Senior libero Taisa Taylor shined with her career-high 28 digs during this match.
In the beginning of the first set, Utah State was able to overcome the Bronco’s 9-6 lead and tied the set at 12-12. The Aggies were able to go off on a five-point run after a kill by Solosabal, and ended with a kill by Downing to set the score at 17-12. Boise went on a five-point run of their own to tie again at 17-17, and ended up taking the lead again at 21-18. USU went on to win the frame 25-23.
The second set was bleak, ending at 25-11 in favor of BSU.
Utah State then decided to kick it into gear and came out aggressively in the third set by taking an early 7-3 lead. USU maintained the lead until late in the set, 20-15, until Boise went on a seven point run of their own to take the lead 22-20. After a 22-22 tie, the Bronco’s gave the final push and took the set 25-23.
The fourth set was another blur for the Aggies, because once a 5-5 tie was broken the team took off and showed no mercy by winning 25-14.
Both BSU and USU came into the fifth set looking for a win and ready to fight for it. After working up to another deadlock at 4-4, Boise broke free and went on a seven point rampage to land them at 11-4. The set was given to them 15-9, along with the match.
The final match of the season took place on Saturday against Air Force. This was the first time USU has lost to Air Force in a three-set match. Air Force began the first set of the match with a 13-3 run, and kept the momentum going to win 25-13. The Falcons continued the beat down in the second set by taking that one 25-12.
The final set of the season started in a two point advantage for Utah State, before Air Force took control once again with a 7-5 lead. The Falcons went on a 6-1 run afterwards to give themselves a comfortable eight point gap at 18-10, before going on to win the set, 25-17. The Aggies ended their regular season at 5-24 overall, and 3-15 in the Mountain West.