Kartchner makes Aggie debut in start against LBSU
Utah State freshman middle blocker Stacy Kartchner played in her first match as an Aggie, earning the start Saturday against Long Beach State University.
“It was so fun, I was so totally excited when [Head Coach Burt Fuller] told me,” she said. “It was like a dream come true.”
Kartchner said playing against LBSU, the No. 6 team in the country, made the start even more special.
“That is what made it a dream come true, my first game coming out against a huge team,” she said. “Great talent, what more could you ask for to play?”
For the match, Kartchner finished with one kill, one solo block, four block assists and three digs.
“[Kartchner], we always knew she could block,” Aggie Head Coach Burt Fuller said. “She’s going to improve on her attacking, but she is probably one of our most athletic kids and she is our best blocking middle, that is for sure. She just really adds to the fun of playing the game for her teammates.”
The digs were the best part for her though, Kartchner said.
“I like getting digs, because I’m not a good digger,” she said. “Blocks are momentum for me but digs are my happy play.”
Welcome to the Spectrum
Thursday’s match against the University of California Irvine and Saturday’s against LBSU marked the first two matches in the Spectrum for nine Aggies.
“It was fun to have your friends watch you,” said freshman middle blocker Jenna Jordan.
Kartchner said, “I love the fans. I’m not used to having so many fans and they’re great. I loved it.”
The Aggies started play on Aug. 30 and played their first nine matches on the road.
“It was good to be home for once,” Jordan said.
Serving tough
LBSU setter Brittany Hochevar, who recently moved into fourth place on the Big West Conference career-aces list, finished Saturday’s match with three aces.
“She’s consistent, and that’s what makes it tough,” Fuller said.
As a team, the 49ers had seven aces and only four service errors. The Aggies had four aces and nine errors. At one point in the third game, USU recorded errors on three serves in a row.
Big Blocking
Long Beach and Utah State combined for 23 blocks in Saturday’s match.
LBSU finished with 15 while the Aggies had eight, with three coming in a row in the third game.
The 49er’s 6-foot-3 middle blocker Elisha Thomas led all players with one solo block and six block assists.
“They put up a good block,” Kartchner said. “I’m not one of the more effective hitters on the team, but they put up a good block.”
Kartchner led the Aggies with one solo and four block assists.
USU middle blocker Rickie Rigby said blocking is really a boost to the team.
“It’s the most invigorating thing, first of all, blocking a player – especially a big player that hits hard,” she said. “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”
Return to an old role
There was a change of duties for Aggie outside hitter Shauni Fluckiger against LBSU.
The senior, who had been playing at outside hitter, started Saturda’‚s match as libero.
Two years ago under former Aggie Head Coach Tom Peterson, Fluckiger said she played as a defensive specialist and was happy to get another chance at the role.
“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “I really, really enjoyed it. I love to get in there and dig balls and get on the floor.”
Tough Competition
After playing No. 6 LBSU Saturday, the Aggies have four currently ranked teams remaining on their schedule. USU will play LBSU once more as well as No. 10 Utah, No. 12 University of California Santa Barbara twice and No. 22 University of the Pacific twice.
Utah State faced the University of Texas on Sept. 6 and though unranked at the time, Texas is currently No. 24.
Quotable
“Rickie Rigby came in and she did pretty well. That’s a kid that’s working her fricking tail off every day in practice, has one of the best attitudes of any kid I’ve ever seen and has now earned a couple of opportunities to play. She’s a blue-collar kid. She’s playing great defense, and she’s going to the floor real well. She’s earned time. She doesn’t just deserve time, she’s earned time.” – Utah State Head Coach Burt Fuller
Big West Conference Standings
Conference Overall
W L W L
UC Santa Barbara 2 0 11 0
Long Beach State 2 0 10 0
UC Riverside 1 0 5 5
Pacific 1 1 5 5
UC Irvine 1 1 7 4
Idaho 1 1 3 6
Cal Poly 1 1 2 8
Cal State Fullerton 0 1 4 9
Cal State Northridge 0 2 5 5
Utah State 0 2 5 6
By the numbers
25 • Straight conference victories by Long Beach
23 • Straight Aggie losses to Long Beach
11 • Kills by Aggie Tereza Cernianska
10 • Kills by 49er Elisha Thomas
9 • Road matches the Aggies have played
6 • LBSU’s national ranking
3 • Returning starters for USU
0 • Long Beach’s hitting percentage in the third game
– slbk5@cc.usu.edu