USU Volleyball defeats Fresno State, extends winning streak to five

After somewhat of a slow start, Utah State Volleyball cruised to a three sets to one victory over Fresno State on Saturday afternoon in Logan. With this win, the Aggies notched their fifth consecutive victory. It’s their longest winning streak since 2017.

After a first set win, the Aggies dropped the second set as Fresno State was able to control the net. The Bulldogs had 15 total kills, converting 72% of kill opportunities in the second set to even the score.

Head Coach Rob Nielson and his girls adjusted, getting out to an early third-set lead and never looking back.

“Just executing with our swings,” Nielson said after the match. “Where we’re hitting and how we’re hitting, we didn’t execute in that second set, and they did.”

The Aggies would use those adjustments throughout the match, as they led the Bulldogs in total kills each of the last two sets.

Utah State couldn’t have gotten the win without standout performances from sophomore Tatum Stall and senior Kristy Frank.

Frank led the team with 17 kills and three blocks throughout the match. Stall also played a pivotal role with 14 kills and 12 digs in the Aggie victory.

After a 5-10 finish to last year’s campaign and just two years removed from a 2-28 finish in 2019, the Aggies have a 16-6 record and are sitting at second place in the Mountain West Conference.

With a conference title on their minds, the Aggies enter a brutal part of their schedule where they will play four out of the top five teams in the conference before the end of the year.

One of those teams includes top-ranked Colorado State on November 18 in the Estes Center.

Assuming they take care of business in their matches leading up to CSU, a win would put Utah State in the top spot in the conference even with a previous loss to the Rams.

Up next, the Aggies will travel to San Diego State on Thursday to take on the 6-15 Aztecs.