Ags bite Pack in straight sets
Senior All-American Liz McArthur had a career night as she led the Utah State women’s volleyball team past the University of Nevada, in straight sets Saturday night, 3-0.
McArthur tallied 18 kills and recorded a career-high .680 hitting percentage, while committing only one error.
The Aggies controlled from the start, and the Wolfpack was never able to bounce back.
“Tonight setting Liz anytime was a good time,” said head coach Grayson DuBose. “She was rolling right from the beginning.”
The Aggies got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 4-0 lead and forcing an early timeout by the Wolfpack. Nevada scored two quick points after the timeout, but USU was quick to respond and maintain control. Utah State comfortably executed its offensive sets, and Nevada struggled to put together any kind of offensive or defensive rhythm.
Nevada was forced into another timeout as the USU lead swelled to seven and McArthur made sure the Wolfpack wasn’t able to crawl back into it. After back-to-back kills from McArthur, junior opposite side hitter Shay Sorensen finished it off with a kill of her own to put the set away for the Aggies, 25-20.
Sorensen, who was named to the pre-season All-WAC team, had a solid night for the Aggies, finishing in double digits in kills with 10, along with seven digs and three blocks.
“It feels so good to be at home and play those two matches,” Sorensen said. “I was just trying to really focus in that third game.”
Sorensen had a .381 hitting percentage on the night, and provided the dual threat the Aggies needed to keep the Wolfpack guessing.
“Shay was rolling, and that allows that block to be spread,” DuBose said. “We got our middles involved, and they’d key in on our middles and then we’d go back to the outside. We did a nice job tonight.”
The Aggies never trailed in the first two sets and McArthur wasn’t the only Aggie with a 1.000 hitting percentage in the second set. Junior middle blocker Alyssa Everett also went perfect in the set, recording two kills on two attempts as the Aggie offense committed only two errors in set two.
It was all McArthur in the second set, as she scored every time she attacked the net, going 8-8 and adding a dig.
“Their block was giving me the shots I like to hit,” McArthur said. “That is always nice, it makes it easy. Paige (Neves) really set well tonight, we really seemed to connect.”
Freshman middle blocker Tessa Lea’ea had a big night for Nevada and kept the Wolfpack in the set, but the Aggies wouldn’t be denied. After a service ace from Sorensen put the lead at 23-16, USU went right back to McArthur, who put down her eighth kill to finish the set, 25-18.
“We had a lot of energy, and we wanted to get the momentum straight off the bat,” McArthur said. “We were able to do that, and we were able to keep the lead and keep the momentum.”
The Wolfpack took its first lead of the match in the third set, matching the Aggies point for point. The lead built to as many as three, but Utah State responded with a 6-0 run to turn a three-point deficit into a three point advantage.
Nevada responded, but with the score tied at 14, the Aggies assumed control and patiently played their game. USU came away with a 25-18 third set win, to sweep the match.
With the win Utah State improved to 4-3 in WAC play and moved to 9-11 on the season. Nevada fell to 1-6 in the WAC and 3-15 on the season.
The Aggies head out on a two-game road trip as they visit the Spartans of San Jose State University Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. USU then heads to the Pacific, looking to avenge its early season loss to the No. 8 Rainbow Wahine of the University of Hawaii, Oct. 21 at 10 p.m.
– curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu