When facing Colorado State, USU played five sets, just like they did with Weber State on the 21st, but with a very different outcome. The Aggies beat Weber State in a reverse sweep but fell to Colorado State in the fifth set. USU hasn’t just gone five sets with Colorado and Weber, but this is the fifth consecutive match in which they have gone five sets.
This ties into a programming record. The Aggies would have wished to have won their Mountain West opener against Colorado State as USU went 3-2 on Thursday; here is the point spread (25-15, 22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 15-12). Here is how the game went right to the very end.
The First and Second Sets
Colorado State was favored to win this game and the Mountain West conference. They came in firing on all cylinders in the first set, scoring a 5-1 run. USU was committed to the fight and kept Colorado’s led to one at times. The Rams would not take it, as they responded with a 7-1 run. After they took control, there wasn’t much the Aggies could do as Colorado finished the first set 25-15.
The second set started the opposite of the first, as it was the Aggies‘ turn to shine. They started with a 5-1 run. Not only did they start well, but USU kept it going with a 5-0 run. This gave the Aggies a lead of 12-6. Colorado was getting beat but was not dead. They crept back a little at a time until they ran a 6-1 surge, taking the lead from the Aggies.
The Third Set Changed Things
The momentum was back to Colorado, and it appeared that they were going to take the second set. Then USU handed the Rams a few kills. The first came from junior Tierney Barlow. The next two kills were handed to Colorado courtesy of Loryn Helgesen and Andrea Simovski, who ended the set with a 4-0 run, finishing with a 25-22 win.
Each team had taken a set now going into the third set and the Rams took their turn to take control. They opened with a 6-1 run. Colorado went on to lead as many as eight points, with USU having sporadic moments of scoring. Colorado State wouldn’t give USU a chance, as the set ended 25-18.
Fourth and Fifth Sets Were Close
The fourth set started differently, as neither side took the lead. That was until the Aggies went on a 6-0 run, thanks to Mara Stiglic continuously servicing the Rams. USU led Colorado by as much as five points when they responded with an 8-1 run. Then it was USU’s turn with a 3-0 run. This teeter-totter state of the game continued as it was Colorado’s turn and fired back 6-1, taking the score to 22-18. USU surged with a 5-0 run again through Stiglic serviceability. Adna Mehmedovic was the one who put the Aggies ahead performing a solo block, sealing the set win for USU.
In the fifth set, it was the Rams who started strong. They went on an 8-4 run, but the Aggies wouldn’t go down without a fight. USU started with a 3-0 stretch and also offered up a pair of aces from sophomore Kendel Thompson. That brought them within a single-point deficit. Then the Rams came back with their own 3-0 run. USU could see the end now that the score was 14-10. Despite their efforts, the Rams ended the set with 15-12.
USU Will Host Wyoming Next
Hoping to put this defeat behind them, the Aggies’ next game will be against Wyoming. USU will be hosting the Cowgirls with the hopes of spurring a comeback as Wyoming had already lost their last game when they played against Nevada. That game also went into five sets. Could this be the new normal for the Aggies, or will USU find a better rhythm and end their game only going three to four sets?
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