Things weren’t looking good for USU as the game started Thursday night in the Wayne Estes Center. It was so bad that some Utah State fans were leaving during the fourth set of the match. However, last year’s Mountain West Conference champions dug deep and got what they wanted, winning a spot in this year’s tournament for the Mount West.
They played like true champions in the fourth, forcing a fifth set. The Aggies took down UNLV with 26-24, 20-25, 23-25, 26-24, 15-8. The Aggies (13-12, 10-5 MW) did have some ups and downs but came together when it counted most against the Rebels (12-14, 5-10). Utah State clinched their spot despite three matches to go.
USU In Set One and Two
Kicking off their final homestand of the season, the Aggies jumped out to the lead with a 6-1 run early in the match. The Rebels responded, however, to foreshadow the tight game to come. UNLV used a 7-2 stretch to retake the lead at 13-12. From there, the two teams seesawed back and forth. Neither side led by more than a point before the Rebels created separation with a 4-0 run to take a 23-20 lead. The Aggies stormed back as freshman Andrea Simovski rattled off a pair of kills to begin the rally.
After fending off a set-point opportunity from UNLV, junior Tierney Barlow returned the ball to USU with a kill before teaming with senior Kaylie Ray to give the Aggies a chance at set point. Simovski finished the set with an ace for the 26-24 win.
Utah State took the lead in set two, holding an early 7-3 advantage before the Rebels erased the deficit with a 6-1 burst to jump in front. Both teams traded 3-0 spurts before UNLV used a 5-1 to take control of the set. The Rebels led by as many as six before USU attempted another late-stage comeback as Ray scored three consecutive kills to bring the Aggies within three. However, time ran out on the comeback as UNLV evened the match with a 25-20 win.
Set Three and Four
USU built another multi-point lead to begin set three. After leading 7-3, the Aggies initially thwarted UNLV’s attempts to eat away at the deficit before the Rebels tied the set at 15-15 following a 4-1 run. The Aggies built their own 4-1 run late in the set to take a 23-21 lead before the Rebels scored the final four points to score the 25-23 win and go up in the match, two sets to one.
The Rebels’ momentum persisted into the fourth frame as UNLV jumped to an immediate 6-1 lead. USU closed the distance with a 3-0 run but could not stifle the Rebel offense long enough to complete the comeback. The Rebels led by five points on several occasions before the Aggies found their stride again with a 5-0 to tie the set at 16 all. UNLV retained the lead momentarily before the Aggies used a 5-1 run to arrive at set point with a 24-22 lead.
Ray added another pair of kills during the run, and freshman Kaylie Kofe added an ace from the service line. The Rebels fended off set point and closed the gap with two straight points before a service error again put the Aggies at a set point opportunity. This time, Barlow and senior Adna Mehmedovic combined for the block to take the set, 26-24, and force a decisive fifth set.
Fifth Set and Play-By-Play
In the final frame, the Aggies wasted little time laying claim to momentum. Graduate senior Kelsey Watson scored the first four points of the set for USU, consisting of three kills and one block alongside Simovski. Simovski then jumped in with a pair of kills herself, plus another block alongside Barlow to put the Aggies up, 9-4.
Before the Rebels could mount a serious comeback, the Aggies took over with a 5-1 run as Ray tallied three more kills while Kofe and Watson combined for a block. At match point, sophomore Kendel Thompson correctly judged a Rebel service error to give the Aggies the 15-8 win to clinch the match.
USU Came Out Fighting
The Aggies came to life with a 5-0 run to tie the set for the first time, 16-16. Kills by Tierney Barlow and Andrea Simovski got the surge going. Jagoda served up an ace to tie the set. An ace by Barlow tied it again at 19-19. Kills by Ray sandwiched an ace by Kaylie Kofe as USU took its first lead, 22-21. Blocks by Kelsey Watson and Ray and then Adna Mehmedovic and Barlow, coupled with two Rebel errors, gave the hosts the set and new life.
The fifth was all USU. Watson had three early kills and teamed up with Simovski for a block. Simovski and Barlow combined for a block, and then Simovski had back-to-back kills, followed by a kill by Barlow to give the Aggies a 9-4 lead. Ray had three kills down the stretch, and the Rebels had three errors, including serving long on match point.
Fifth Set Saga
Thursday night was the 12th time the Aggies have gone five sets this season, so it was nothing new. They are now 6-6 in those matches. With her 20 kills, Simovski ties Lauren Anderson for the most time with at least 20 kills in a game in a season at four.
Having two players with 20 kills in a match has happened twice this season, which, before this year, had not happened since joining the Mountain West in 2013. Joining Ray and Simovski in double-digit kills Thursday were Barlow (13) and Watson (11). USU hit .316 as a team.
Players Come Back Too
Kofe had a career-high 57 assists and also came up with 11 digs. Three other Aggies had double figures in digs: Kendel Thompson (11), Simovski (11), and Delaney Lawson (10). Simovski also had three aces to lead USU. Watson led at the net with one block solo and four block assists. Barlow had four block assists, while Ray had three block assists.
The Aggies were short-handed Thursday night as two regular players in the rotation sat out with injuries. Outside hitter Mara Stiglic and opposite-side hitter Loryn Helgesen are day-to-day. USU used a 6-1 run to take the first set after eight lead changes and 14 ties. Simovski had seven kills and all three of her aces in the opening set, including the final point.
Lead Battles
After a tight start to the second set, both teams traded runs. The Rebels used an 8-2 surge to get in front for good, 17-13. Ray tried to rally the Aggies with back-to-back-to-back kills, pulling USU within 22-19. However, UNLV was able to tie up the match. Once again, in the third, Ray recorded three straight kills as part of a 4-0 run that gave USU the early lead, 7-4. The Aggies held a 23-21 lead late, but it got away as UNLV had back-to-back aces by Arien Fafard and two kills by Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos to take the third.
What’s Next
But the Aggies were able to battle back and sweep the season series. The Rebels also hit above .300 Thursday night at .301. Basia Latos and Chloe Thomas led the attack with 16 kills each. The Aggies will welcome San Diego State to the Estes Center for Senior Night on Saturday. That match starts at 7 p.m. The Aggies beat the Aztecs in San Diego earlier this season in five.
