Volleyball Defeats Fresno State In Four Games
Oct. 27, 2007
LOGAN, Utah - Amanda Nielson recorded a match-high 26 kills to lead Utah State's women's volleyball team to a four-game win (30-26, 30-22, 27-30, 30-26) against Fresno State here Saturday night. With the win, Utah State improves to 14-10 on the season and 9-4 in the Western Athletic Conference, while Fresno State falls to 5-19 on the season and 3-9 in league play with the loss. Utah State has now won a season-high five straight matches and 12 of its last 16 after starting the year with a 2-6 record. Nielson, a senior opposite side hitter from West Valley City, Utah (Granger HS) extended her streak of 20-plus kills to five straight matches. She finished the contest by hitting .295 (26-8-61) and added eight digs and six blocks. Junior outside hitter Melissa Osterloh (Sandy, Utah) recorded her team-leading 10th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 12 digs, while junior middle blocker Rebecca Anderson (Logan, Utah) tied her career-high with nine kills. Utah State also received solid performances from a pair of freshman as libero Christine Morrill (Neola, Utah) recorded a season-high 24 digs, while setter Chelsea Fowles (Hollister, Calif.) tied her season-high with 63 assists. Angela Wiggins recorded 16 kills to lead Fresno State, while Alisha McKee added 15 kills. Utah State controlled the first two games as it hit .286 (17-5-42) in game one and .268 (17-6-41) in game two and limited Fresno State to combined .138 (25-14-80) hitting percentage to take a 2-0 lead. FSU rebounded in game three and hit .216 (17-6-51) as it notched the three-point win. In game four, USU received 10 kills from Anderson (6) and sophomore middle blocker Danielle Taylor (Springville, Utah) to record the four-point win. USU hit .217 (17-7-46) in the fourth game, while FSU hit .190 (15-7-42). Overall, Utah State finished the match with a .237 (67-25-177) hitting percentage as compared to a .173 (57-27-173) hitting percentage for Fresno State. USU also recorded 13 more assists (66-53), five more service aces (9-4), three more digs (74-71) and one more team block (11.5-10.5), while the Bulldogs had five fewer service errors (16-11). Utah State will return to action on Tuesday, Oct. 30 when it hosts in-state rival Utah at 6 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Utah State 3, Fresno State 1 FSU 26 22 30 26 USU 30 30 27 30
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