USU Volleyball outlasts Aztecs in five, delivers Neilson’s 100th win
Utah State Women’s Volleyball survived a back-and-forth five-set thriller against San Diego State on Oct. 24, moving to 9-0 to stay perfect in Mountain West play and handing head coach Rob Neilson his 100th career victory.
The Aggies steadied themselves after a choppy middle stretch and dominated the fifth, sealing a milestone night in front of their home crowd.
“Really fun to watch the group battle and be resilient. We had a lot of people step up and make plays when we needed to. Don’t know if we played our best volleyball, but [we] battled, and that’s been a hallmark of our group,” Neilson said.
Utah State set the tone early with a crisp first set, then weathered San Diego State’s push as the match stretched long. The Aggies slammed the door in set 5, racing to an 11-7 cushion and getting the 15-8 finish.
Depth and next-player-up execution turned the match. Freshman middle blocker Ava Martin, who has seen limited action this season, played outside hitter in today’s match.
“Martin … had her first action [in a while], blocked 10 balls, did a really nice job for us defensively and she’s learning a lot,” Neilson said.
The night demanded adjustments on the fly. Standout player Tierney Barlow tweaked an ankle recently, and Utah State managed her minutes.
“We’re hoping to get her back … just kind of out of precaution,” Neilson said.
Serving swings defined the match’s middle acts. San Diego State’s pressure from the line periodically tilted control, but Utah State’s response proved decisive.
“They did a really good job from the service line … and then we went on a little service run of our own. Our serving was what kept us in the match and really allowed us to grind and eventually win,” Neilson said.
Utah State’s block tightened late, with key momentum points, including a 9-0 close to a crucial third set and a wave of “big blocks” that turned tight rallies into Aggie points before the fifth set pull-away.
The team consciously toggled between power and touch as the match evolved.
“You want to be good for your team … and big swings don’t always go the way you want. It’s important to keep in mind you can score in different ways,” said Loryn Helgesen, a sophomore opposite hitter. “It was easier to know when I needed to have the big swings and when I needed to play smart.”
Loryn Helgesen, 5, jumps for the ball during a game against Weber State University.
The Aggies also drew on the emotion of their coach’s impending milestone.
“During the fourth, we definitely came together and said, ‘We can play this for Rob, because he’s an amazing coach.’ We just wanted to show up for him, and I’m glad we did,” Helgesen said.
Neilson, who said he hadn’t realized the match would mark 100 wins, credited the athletes around him for making the moment meaningful.
“I had no idea … 100 wins means I’ve been part of a lot of really cool moments with a lot of really cool athletes,” Neilson said. “This group is as good as there’s ever been … I’m excited for what our future is.”
By the numbers, Utah State controlled the opener with efficient hitting and lots of first-ball kills. The fifth set’s 15-8 margin reflected that late-match edge at the net and from the service line.
The result keeps Utah State’s conference start spotless and underscores the Aggies’ depth, a theme that could loom large as league play tightens.
“It’s awesome to see the resilience of a group when you give away a set right at the end. It just kind of shows how resilient this group is … started out great in the fifth and came out victorious,” Neilson said.