Volleyball team drops 2 matches
It was yet another difficult weekend for the short-handed Utah State women’s volleyball team, dropping two matches to Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara.
“We’ve got four starters on the bench with injuries,” Utah State Head Coach Burt Fuller said. “We’re just working hard with what we have.”
Carolyn Forbush, back in after sitting out the last match with a sprained ankle, led the way for the Aggies with a match-high 16 kills in their 1-4 loss to Cal Poly Friday night. Amanda Orgill was not far behind with 11 kills. Kelsi Thoman was strong on defense with 20 digs – the sixth time this season she has had at least 20 digs in a match.
“Forbush was back playing,” Fuller said. “That means that we have four on the bench and nine people playing – definitely better than it’s been.”
The Ags were able to come out strong during the first game against Cal Poly, hitting .234 and holding the Mustangs to -.087, to get their only win of the night, 30-19. After that, Cal Poly turned up its intensity and Utah State was left behind.
Before Friday, the Aggies had won the last three meetings with Cal Poly, including one earlier in the season.
“For our kids out there, it is just a real learning experience,” Fuller said. “We have to focus on who we have and focus on the best situation.”
The match against Santa Barbara Saturday night turned out much the same as the one against Cal Poly. The Ags fell in three games 18-30, 14-30 and 14-30 in their worst loss of the season.
“Santa Barbara is a top team in our conference and we have four starters on the bench,” Fuller said. “They served tough. We’ve got our First-Team, All-[Conference] hitter last year, Zuzana Cernianska, setting with Dominique Arsenault out and its just tough.”
Utah State beat UCSB in the box scores in one thing, 17 unforced hitting errors. Beyond that, the Ags had a tough time keeping up with the Gauchos. Santa Barbara had 48 kills for the night with 13 blocks. The Aggies posted 31 kills and only three blocks for the night.
Senior Kindy Peterson led the way for Utah State with eight kills. Amanda Fahnestock was not far behind with seven, hitting .462 in the match.
Fuller said that despite the dismal 3-11 conference record his team is still working hard and doing well.
“We’re still battling,” Fuller said. “Our spirits are high. It is a struggle to go against good teams like we have in the Big West and be a little short-handed.”
The Aggies will host UC Riverside at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Spectrum.
-aedmunds@cc.usu.edu