USU sweeps Broncos in final regular season match
Following its second loss of the season to No. 1 ranked Long Beach State University, the Utah State University women’s volleyball team needed some momentum going into what was expected to be its second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament.
The Aggies got just that with a 30-17, 30-20, 30-22 sweep of Boise State University last Friday at the Spectrum. With the victory, USU improved to 19-10 on the season and 9-2 at the Spectrum.
“I thought our kids came out with a pretty good attitude and played hard and that was nice to see,” USU Head Coach Burt Fuller said.
Playing a day after Thanksgiving and against a Bronco team with a 1-24 record, Fuller was worried the team might come out a little bit sluggish.
However, USU was able to take control of the match soon after the opening serve as the Aggies went on an 11-1 run to take a 23-11 lead in the first game.
For the game, the Aggies hit a whopping .471 with only two attack errors, while holding the Broncos to a .103 hitting percentage. The first game would prove to be a precursor of things to come as the Aggies hit a season-high .422 on the night.
“We were able to toll [the block] and hit through them,” outside hitter Shauni Fluckiger said. “[Setter] Chelsi [Neves] did a really good job of setting us.”
Fluckiger was among the Aggies who enjoyed a solid match, hitting .400 with seven kills and 10 digs. Lisa Borom and Erin Cartwright led the team with 14 and 12 kills, respectively. Borom also finished with a match-high 11 digs.
“We’re not beating ourselves,” Fuller said. “We’re doing the things our team has to do to be successful.”
USU continued its dominance of the Broncos in the second game, turning a 24-18 lead into a commanding 29-18 advantage following a Michelle Matheson putaway on a quick set to the middle.
BSU refused to go down without a fight as the Broncos took a 15-12 lead in the third game on consecutive kills by Salt Lake City native Tameisha Hastings.
“We didn’t come out like we should have in the third game, but to be able to finish strong says a lot [about our team],” Neves said.
Down 15-12, the Aggies turned up their offensive intensity to the tune of a blistering .515 hitting percentage in the third stanza. Two five-point runs put USU up 26-20.
A Borom kill following a one-handed diving dig by Cartwright gave the Aggies a 28-21 lead and got the Spectrum crowd on their feet. Following a Bronco point, consecutive kills by Borom and Cartwright put the match away.
When asked if USU is in NCAA Tournament form, Fuller said, “I think we’re right on par with where we should be. We’ve only lost to one team that wasn’t a top 20 team, and that says a lot about [our] players.”
Neves said, “It would have been nice to play a better team to help us get ready for nationals.”