Aug. 28, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's women's volleyball team will begin the 2008 season in Provo, Utah at the BYU Molten Classic hosted by Brigham Young on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 29-30. The Aggies will open the tournament at 7 p.m. on Friday against the host Cougars, who are ranked No. 20 in the nation. USU will then play Missouri and Tulane during the final day of the tournament on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. Live stats for all three matches will be available via BYU's web site at www.byucougars.com.

Utah State is 14-39 all-time against BYU, which includes a 4-22 road record. The Cougars return three starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that went 24-8 during the season and advanced to the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament where they lost to top-ranked Penn State in three games.

Utah State returns five starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's team that went 17-13 overall and finished in third-place in the Western Athletic Conference with an 11-5 league record. Among those returning for USU is senior outside hitter Melissa Osterloh and junior middle blocker Danielle Taylor who both earned second-team all-WAC honors in 2007, while sophomore setter Chelsea Fowles was named the WAC's Freshman of the Year. Fowles is also one of 12 players named to the league's all-preseason team this year. USU was picked fifth in the WAC's preseason poll this year according to the league's coaches.

Utah State is 15-17 all-time in season openers, including wins in two of the last three years. USU is also 31-32 in regular season tournaments during the last eight years, which includes a 25-17 record on a neutral court.