Historic season for USU women’s sports
There is no doubt this has been a successful year for Utah State sports.
Arguably the most impressive feat by USU Athletics has been the improvement of every sanctioned women’s sport on campus.
From last season to this season, volleyball’s winning percentage jumped from .333 to .709. Soccer jumped from .500 to 591. Basketball went from .166 to .366. Gymnastics went from .166 to .578. Softball went from .318 and is currently .531.
“I think one of the greatest motivators within our athletic depart is seeing other programs being so successful,” women’s basketball coach Kayla Ard said. “It creates a standard & expectation of success that pushes other teams to reach higher. Furthermore, sports teams support each other here at Utah State and seeing fellow student-athletes and coaches in the stands cheering each other on is such a special atmosphere.”
Winning certainly was contagious this year. It began in the fall semester.
Under year two of the Rob Nielson era, the volleyball team had arguably its most successful season in over a decade last fall. They went 22-9, finishing in a tie for first place with Colorado State for the MW regular-season championship.
The highlight of the season came on Nov. 18 at home against Colorado State. Senior Kristy Frank had a team-high 22 kills, and the Aggies defeated the Rams 3-1 to tie them in the standings. Two days later, they defeated Wyoming 3-2 to officially clinch a share of the title.
Frank, and teammates Tatum Stall and Corinne Larsen earned MW All-Conference honors at the end of the season.
Soccer didn’t win a championship but managed to steal headlines under Martins. Playing an intense style of defense and relying on senior leadership for goal scoring, the Aggies finished the season 13-6-3.
Arguably two games stood out for the Aggies. On Sept. 18, the Aggies traveled to Provo to face nationally-ranked BYU. They defeated the Cougars 2-1 in extra time, thanks to goals from Ashley Cardozo (29’) and a game-winner from Tenzi Knowles (98’).
It was the first win over BYU in program history.
The second high moment came at the end of the season. In the MW Tournament Quarterfinals, Cardozo hit a goal from well beyond the box to give USU a 1-0 lead in the 50th minute. They’d advance to the semifinals, where they fell to top-seeded New Mexico 2-1 in OT.
Cardozo earned MW All-Conference First Team, goalkeeper Diera Walton earned MW All-Conference Second Team.
To cap off the fall season, the women’s cross country team had a second-place finish in the conference, and qualified for nationals, where they’d place No. 28. Micaela Rivera and Katie Struthers would earn ALL MW Second Team Honors.
“I believe it to be a reflection of the talent and potential that is present within the student-athlete community, as well as the deliberate work by our administration to hire coaches who are recruiting and developing championship-level student-athletes,” head soccer coach Manny Martins said about the collective success.
In the winter semester, Gymnastics led the way going 15-10 and capturing their first-ever Mountain Rim Gymnastics Championship. In the championship meet in Boise on March 19, the Aggies scored a 197.025, good enough to defeat Boise State, Southern Utah and BYU.
“I’m speechless,” said fifth-year Utah State head coach Amy Smith said after the meet. “The coaches have known what this team has been capable of all year, and to put it together tonight is so incredibly special. I don’t even have words to describe how proud, how happy, and just how relieved that they were able to do this for them, to realize the potential that they could get to.”
Throughout the season, Brie Clark stood out on the floor, earning a national qualifying score of 9.940. Her efforts earned her Second Team All-American Honors from the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association.
Women’s basketball had an improved season in year two under Kayla Ard. The Aggies finished 11-19, much improved from a 4-20 record a season before.
Highlights of the season included back-to-back wins over preseason MW champion Fresno State. The Aggies engineered two fourth-quarter comebacks, one to best the Bulldogs 96-90 in OT on senior night, and another to beat them 80-75 in the MW Tournament to advance to the quarterfinals.
Forward Adryana Quezada earned All MW Honorable Mention Honors after averaging a team-high 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.
Softball, women’s tennis and women’s track and field are currently in season, and by every indication, they’ve improved from a year ago.