Men’s club volleyball opens season strong
Riding the momentum from an undefeated opening round, Utah State just kept rolling.
Hosting its opening tournament of the year, the USU men’s club volleyball A team finished second to the University of Utah.
Pool play victories Friday over the University of Colorado B team, Club Magic and the Salt Lake Community College B team gave the USU A team a No. 1 seeding to start double-elimination play. The Aggies swept all three teams in the best-of-three matches.
To open double elimination Saturday, the Southern Utah University B team forfeited and then the Aggies defeated the SUU A team 2-0 to set up a match with another No. 1 seed, the Colorado A team.
The Aggies defeated Colorado in three games and then fell in three games to Utah, dropping into the losers’ bracket.
In the one-game losers’ bracket match, USU defeated the Colorado A team for a second time to advance to the championship game and a rematch against Utah.
Utah State fell to Utah in two games, 27-25 and 28-26.
“Obviously we’re disappointed we couldn’t win when we were that close, but at the same time we’re really pleased with how the weekend played out,” said Aggie Head Coach Adam Longmore.
Utah State opposite Jacob Diem said, “We struggled a little bit but we seemed to bounce back every time. When we messed up, we came back and grouped together.”
The USU B team went 1-2 in the opening round, with losses to the Colorado A team and the SUU A team.
The Aggies were victorious over a team of USU alumni.
In double elimination, the B team opened with a 2-1 loss to the University of Utah, dropping into the losers’ bracket. There the Aggies lost to Colorado in their final game to finish in fourth place.
“Both teams can compete with anybody,” Longmore. “It’s a matter of being consistent.”
With the season just under way and several new players on the team, the Aggies were working to build upon their team chemistry.
“I think we’re friends first and foremost,” said Aggie middle blocker Brad Davidson. “I think there is an on-the-court connection and that’s why we’re going to get better.”
With the team having such a strong showing to start the season, Longmore said he thinks it will just continue improving.
“To play as well as we have, it helps us all realize the kind of potential we have,” he said.
-slbk5@cc.usu.edu