Vollyball destroys Lousiana Tech to get back on track
After losing three of their last four matches, the Utah State Aggies (15-5, 3-4 WAC) needed a boost to stop the bleeding, and they found it on their home court Thursday night against Louisiana Tech as they crushed the Lady Techsters (10-13, 0-8 WAC) in three straight sets (25-13, 25-23, 25-12).
“We needed this win and everybody knew how important it was,” sophomore outside hitter Josselyn White said. “I think there was a sense of urgency that we had tonight and I think that’s why we were able to stay pretty consistent other than the second set.”
The lopsided victory wasn’t all Aggies, however, as the Lady Techsters gave the Aggies all they could handle in the second set. Aggie head coach Grayson DuBose said he was happy to see his team so resilient especially this late in the season.
“It was nice to gut it out and come back a little bit,” DuBose said. “We’ve done it other times but it was earlier in the season so it’s nice to see us this late in the season still have the composure to do that.”
The Aggies and Lady Techsters kept things close in the first set as they traded side-outs for the first four points of the match. The momentum shifted when Lady Techster senior outside hitter Taylor Fritz committed an attack error and Aggie senior setter Chelsea Fowles placed a perfect ball for a service ace to spur an 8-2 run to give the Aggies a 10-4 lead. The Aggies were never in danger at that point, cruising to a 25-13 victory.
Set two began similarly to set one, however the Aggies began to come apart at the seams. Hitting errors plagued the Aggies as they looked lost on the court. Senior middle blocker Kara Jones and senior setter Bianca Bin combined for a block assist to give the Lady Techsters a 12-8 lead and forcing DuBose to call a time out.
“The first set we came out and beat them pretty badly,” White said. “We had all this confidence but I don’t know where it went. They came out a lot harder. When you get beat that bad you want to come out better so credit them.”
The Aggies were able to keep the Lady Techsters after the timeout until two consecutive hitting errors caused the Aggies to call their final timeout of the set. The Aggies regrouped out of the timeout and finished the set on a 13-6 run to take the second set, 25-23.
“We don’t panic and it helps having seniors on our team because they show leadership and helps us settle down in positions like that,” White said. “So, I think with their help we were able to get over our hitting errors and pull it out.”
The Aggies came out of the break firing on all cylinders and they were able to establish dominance early on. The Aggies used stellar serving and an intense attack to jump out to big lead early. The Aggies racked up 21 points before the Lady Techsters even reached double digits. The Aggies got a surprise spark off the bench from junior opposite side hitter Emily Kortsen, who logged five kills in the third set alone.
“She’s kind of this instant offense chick,” DuBose said. “She did a really good job.”
After the much needed victory, the Aggies will prepare for New Mexico State and nationally ranked Hawaii, however DuBose isn’t looking passed New Mexico State, where former assistants are coaching.
“New Mexico State is good,” DuBose said. “They are well coached. I think we match up well. I think they’re physical and I think we can be physical, and so I think it’s going to be a wonderful match. I’m looking forward to it.”
The Aggies will host New Mexico State at 8:30 p.m on Saturday and the game is free to those who show their ticket stub from the football game that day.
-ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu