Utah State women’s volleyball team took on no. 7 Colorado State on Thursday in the Wayne Estes Center. The first set started out with the lead for Colorado State, then USU started to pick up their game and were neck and neck with them throughout the rest of the set. There were nine times the score was tied, and there were six different lead changes throughout this first set.
In the first set, the team attack was at the highest percentage with 51% of attacks and kills. The first set ended in the close win for Colorado State 25-22.
The second set was one of the closest ones for Utah State Volleyball. There were 14 times the score was tied and seven lead changes. The set started right off with a point for USU, and the rest of the match was a neck and neck fight for the win. Near the end of the set, Aggies started losing momentum and lost to Colorado State 25-20.
After the second set, Utah State was able to gather together as a team in the team room and regroup. According to #15 Kaylie Kamalu, this was what made the Aggies able to pull out a great win in the third set over 7th ranked team in the nation, Colorado State.
The set began with USU lead, and they held the lead throughout the entire set. There was one tied score, and no lead changes. They gained a huge lead, 24-18, and then Colorado State fought back and brought the score up to 23-24. Utah State was able to get the one side-out and finish the game off 25-24. Hannah Gleason had the best serving sets of her career with three aces.
Colorado State came out in the fourth set with a determination to win. They held the lead over Utah State the whole match. Colorado State won the fourth set 25-18, winning the overall match. In the interviews after, Head Coach Grayson DuBose said that Colorado State had more consistency than Utah State, and that is what gave them that extra lead to win over the Aggies. Kaitlyn VanHoff and Kaylie Kamalu both agreed that the match came down to consistency and little play by play errors.
Great match played by both teams, and definitely and entertaining one! Utah State is now preparing for their game against Wyoming this coming Saturday on their home court.
