Aggies split last weekend in Hawaii, gear up for tough home matchups
Utah State opened its 2025 volleyball season with a 1-2 showing in Hawaii, taking nationally respected opponents to the wire while securing a decisive win over the host Rainbow Wahine.
The Aggies dropped their opener to San Diego in five sets before sweeping Hawaii in front of more than 6,000 fans at the Stan Sheriff Center. They closed the weekend with a five-set loss to Marquette, falling 20-18 in the final frame.
Head coach Rob Neilson said the trip provided an immediate test and an early look at how his team can respond to high-level competition.
“We didn’t execute well enough against San Diego, but we still took them five,” Neilson said. “The next night, we played really well against Hawaii, and in the Marquette match, we were right there. For the first weekend of the season, it showed us where we’re at and what we can build on.”
Sophomore opposite hitter Loryn Helgesen was a standout. After two quieter matches, she finished with a career-high 23 kills against Marquette.
“Throughout every single game, I slowly built my confidence more and more,” Helgesen said. “Having my team behind me when I wasn’t doing my best really helped me get locked in.”
Neilson said he sees her development as a key storyline moving forward after calling her the “best player in the gym” this summer.
“She’s scary good,” he said. “She went through some ups and downs this weekend, but she wants to be great. She’s improving at a pace that’s really exciting.”
Middle blocker Tierney Barlow also delivered strong performances, recording 14 kills against Hawaii and following with another double-digit effort versus Marquette. Setter Kaylie Kofe, regarded as one of the top players at her position in the conference, matched her career high with 57 assists in the final match of the trip, while libero Kendel Thompson tied her own best with 23 digs. Middle blocker Ava Napierski added nine blocks against Marquette, the most by an Aggie since last fall.
Blocking in particular was an area Neilson emphasized — one of the team’s weaknesses last year.
“We’re way further along with this group than we were last year,” he said. “Blocking is the hardest skill to learn, but we’re already executing at a higher level.”
The Aggies also returned from the islands with a new home-court advantage waiting for them. The Wayne Estes Center now features a Teraflex floor, the same surface used by many top programs nationally.
“It gives a little bit of cushion for all the jumps and the slams on their bodies,” Neilson said. “From a training aspect it’s really good, and from a competition aspect, it looks spectacular.”
Helgesen agreed, noting players were jumping and diving to the floor with a newfound intensity in their first practice back from the trip.
“It’s really nice,” she said. “We go to all these big games, and they always have them. It feels good to finally have one here.”
After a challenging first weekend against three AVCA-ranked teams, the schedule only gets tougher. USU will host No. 9 Texas A&M on Friday before facing No. 23 Utah on Saturday. Both matches will be held at the Wayne Estes Center, featuring the new soft playing surface.
“There’s a little more aggression and a little more risk-taking you have to play with in these matches,” Neilson said. “Hopefully, we get some upsets and make some special memories. Regardless, we’re going to learn a ton that will prepare us for the rest of our season.”
Helgesen said the team’s mindset won’t change.
“It’s the same approach,” she said. “We just really need to dial in on our system. If we do that, we don’t have any worries about other teams.”