USU volleyball winless in Aggie invitational
The Utah State women’s volleyball team hosted its annual Utah State Invitational over the weekend at Kirby Court. The Aggies competed against Southern Utah, Eastern Michigan and Xavier, the latter two making their first trip to Logan.
The Aggies were unable to start the season with a win, falling to all three teams. Utah State played well against Eastern Michigan and the tournament champion Southern Utah, taking both teams to five sets while falling to Xavier in four sets.
Utah State was led by junior outside hitter Gabbi Shumway’s career-high 21 kills in its first match Friday against Eastern Michigan. The Aggies would lead the match 2-1 before the Eagles went on to win in extra points in the fourth set and finishing the fifth set 15-10 to win the match.
Junior middle blocker Bailey Downing led the Aggies in blocks against the Eagles with 3.5 while Utah State posted a total of 12 blocks as a team in the match.
The first match had several new faces see court time for Utah State as senior transfer setter Heidi Carpenter, freshman defensive specialist Grace DuBay and freshman outside hitter Hailey Cuff all made their first appearances.
Xavier gave the Aggies much more trouble in their second matchup of the day. The Musketeers started the match up 2-0 after winning 25-21 and 25-17 in the first two sets. Utah State was able to stay in the match with a third set victory, but the Musketeers took the fourth to put the Aggie’s record at 0-2 on the day.
Gabbi Shumway, again, led Utah State in kills, finishing with 10; freshman outside hitter Madi Brunatti finished with nine. The Aggies posted nine blocks in the match with Downing leading the team with 3.5.
On Saturday, the Aggies took a 2-1 lead over Southern Utah with a dominating .389 hitting percentage in the second set and a .200 hitting percentage in the third set. Southern Utah would pull ahead at the end of the fourth set to force a fifth and dominated the fifth set 15-9.
Sophomore middle blocker Corinne Larsen led the Aggies in kills with 12 while Brunatti finished with 11. Carpenter finished the match as the team leader in aces with four as well as blocks with three.
Utah State would be the only team over the weekend to take any sets off Southern Utah, the team that defeated Xavier and Eastern Michigan 3-0 each. Senior outside hitter Shannon Webb led the Thunderbirds in kills with 57 over the weekend.
Xavier finished the weekend 2-1 with victories over Utah State and Eastern Michigan — both 3-1 — as well as a loss to Southern Utah 3-0. Redshirt freshman wing spiker Lauren Hanlon led the team in kills with 40 over the tournament.
Eastern Michigan went 1-2 with victories over Utah State 3-2, and losses to Southern Utah, 3-0, and Xavier, 3-1. The Eagles were led by junior outside hitter Franki Strefling’s 44 kills and redshirt senior middle blocker Cassie Haut’s 39 kills.
Utah State’s next match will be against the University of Utah on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Wayne Estes Center at Kirby Court.