Ags bouce back in California tourney
They fell down hard to begin the weekend, but eventually got back up.
The Utah State volleyball team lost to the Oregon Ducks of the Pac 10 to begin last Saturday’s Freemont Loans and Investment Invitational in Northridge, Calif., 17-30, 17-30, 17-30.
But in the nightcap the Aggies rebounded and downed former their former Big West conference foe, the Cal State Northridge Matadors, 30-18, 30-22, 28-30, 30-24.
“I think we had a good weekend defeating Cal State Northridge and losing to a very good Pac-10 team in Oregon,” Aggie head coach Grayson DuBose said.
The Aggies’ performance landed them a second-place finish at the Invitational, the same result they turned up with in the season-opening tournament in Albequerque, N.M.
Jeppson, a freshman from Pleasant Grove, led the Aggies with nine kills against the Ducks.
Against the Matadors, Jeppson and teammate Beth Hodge each recorded 14 kills. That number was a season high for Jeppson. Along with her kill total, Hodge had nine digs against the Matadors.
“We were able to get some people good experience and I thought Hailey Jeppson had a nice match (against Cal State Northridge),” DuBose said. “Our blocking is developing and we continue to improve on offense as we get more comfortable.”
The Aggies will take part in two more regular season tournaments. The next is Sept. 8-9 in Salt Lake City, and the last will be Sept. 15-16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.