NCAA berth a possibility for Ag spikers
There are no guarantees in collegiate volleyball, especially in the Big West Conference.
And that is exactly why Utah State volleyball Head Coach Burt Fuller is hesitant to place too much importance on Tuesday’s non-league match against BYU in Provo.
The Aggies could be playing for pride, but they could also be playing for a shot at an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.
The NCAA Selection Show will be Sunday at 6 p.m. and will air live on ESPNews.
“I have no idea [what our chances are of getting a bid],” Fuller said. “Our conference is so up in the air right now, especially after [Saturday’s matches].”
UC Santa Barbara clinched the league with a 14-4 conference record, and Cal State Northridge fell to 12-6 after losing to Idaho and Utah State on the road over the weekend.
The Aggies have an identical 10-8 BWC record with Idaho.
Outside hitter Beth Hodge, who said her shoulder was bothering her a little over the weekend, said it would be nice to get a win over the Cougars.
“It’s very important to beat BYU,” she said. “It would be awesome. And it would give us a sliver of a chance [to get into the tournament]. If we beat BYU it would make the chances even better.”
Fuller said he thinks the sweep at home over Pacific and CSN gave the Utah State a lot of confidence and assurance that it is playing well as of late.
But BYU is not going to be an easy opponent. The Cougars are 21-8 overall this season and finished third in the Mountain West Conference with a 10-4 record.
The Cougars swept Air Force in the first round of the league tournament, but then fell to Utah in three games in the semifinals.
“They are always good at home,” Fuller said. “We are anticipating a pretty tough match down there.”
Utah State is 13-36 all-time against BYU, including a 4-20 road record. The Aggies broke a 17-game road losing streak to the Cougars in 2001 with a dominating 30-26, 30-23, 30-21 victory.
The win isn’t something Fuller plans on dwelling on, though. He said it is something the team has talked about, but it isn’t too big of a deal.
Aggies Erin Cartwright and Andrea Delsigne were members of the team then, as well as assistant coach Heather Olmstead.
“It was a nice win for us then,” Fuller said. “Getting another win would be just as nice. [It would be good to] get a win over a quality opponent that will probably be going to the NCAA Tournament.”
The last time Utah State lost to BYU was a sweep in 2000 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Opposite side hitter Mari Ruddick said the key to a victory is for the Aggies to stay pumped up throughout the match.
“We win when we get pumped up and excited,” she said. “We got down and mad [in games three and four against CS Northridge.”
Aside from playing for a possible a shot at a bid to the NCAA Tournament, the Aggies are also looking to be in-state champions.
Utah State knocked off Weber State twice this year (3-0 and 3-1) and the University of Utah (3-0).
And for middle blocker Erin Cartwright and libero Taubi Neves, it could be the last time they take the court as Aggies.
“I think we’re really confident,” Cartwright said. “I think we can get that win, and if we do, we will be in-state champs. It would be a nice end to the season.”
-juag@cc.usu.edu