It was the first game of the season for USU against Green Bay, and the Aggies start left some doubt about their eventual success. With 11 new freshmen on the team’s roster, they didn’t take long to show what they had. After the first and third sets, USU was down going into their third; it didn’t look good for the Aggies.
Then USU rallied, returning 3-2 (22-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-16, 15-6). The Aggies won over Green Bay on August 30 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. Now that the first game is over, they have overcome their tension. USU may be confident in trusting each other and relaxing when playing at Utah University.
USU Take Green Bay In Hard Five Sets
For the first set, the Aggies started strong against Green Bay with a 6-0 run that they built into an 11-6 lead. However, USU started to fracture letting Phoenix comeback with a run of their own that went 7-1 until they were tied at 13. Then it was a battle that went back and forth until Green Bay went on a small run of their own that gave them the win, taking the first set.
The second set was a battle where neither team would let each other take the lead. The score tightened between the two back and forth until the score was tied at 23 late in the set. That is when senior Adna Mahmedovic, junior Tierney Barlow, and Kaylie Ray each got their kills in a clutch win for USU, 28-26, keeping the Aggies alive.
Next, the Aggies were looking to take the third set, starting strong with a 4-0 run. After Green Bay fought back, the Aggies answered with another run, just like how they started, building a 16—8 lead. It looked like USU was going to have the win, but Phoenix changed things up and responded with an eight-to-zero run. USU countered, but it was too little, too late, when Green Bay took the last three points, securing the set.
Aggies Down One Fight Back
Knowing it was do-or-die, the Aggies came out strong, having to win the set to push it to go into the fifth. The Aggies opened with a 7-1 lead and kept going into almost doubling their opponent’s score to 22-12. It didn’t take much longer for the Aggies to take the set with a victory score of 25-16, taking them to the last set.
In the last and final set, USU started with a little fire, taking the first three points and not letting Green Bay score, but that didn’t last long. Phoenix found a hole of their own and tied things up, each with four. The Aggies wouldn’t live with a loss and played as hard as they could, going on a 7-0 run. They scored six consecutive kills and topped off the set with a cherry from Barlow with an ace, grabbing the win, 15-6.
Head Coach Quotes
After the game Head Coach Rob Neilson stated:
“Just so fun to watch our team. Every game that we played last week in our exhibition, we got better and better. Every game we played tonight, we got better and better and better. We’re still learning how to play together, learning our dynamic, learning how we’ll respond to lots of different ups and downs in a game. But I’m so proud of this team and I am so excited for what’s to come for Aggie nation.”
Who Shined
In the game, freshman Andrea Simovski was the Aggies’ offensive weapon, leading with 21 kills on 41 attempts and marking up a double-double with 10 digs. She wasn’t the only one, as freshmen Jagoda Bialek (16), Delaney Lawson (14), Kaylie Kofe (12), and sophomore Olivia Tukuafu (12) also added double-digit digs in the game.
Simovski, Kofe, and Tukuafu also had double-doubles, bringing 22 and 28 assists, respectively. Mechmedovic and Ray each added a 10-kill plateau, seemingly pairing with 14 and 12 kills. Then there was Simovki and Barlo, who each added two aces each for USU on serves. From the other side of the net, playing defense, was Kelsy Watson, who helped, giving five blocks.
The Aggies play Utah University next. USU has a history of giving almost half its wins to the Utes. USU has a record of 26 wins and 48 losses in its past. Let’s see if there is going to be anything different coming for USU.
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