Oct. 8, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's women's volleyball team will continue Western Athletic Conference play Thursday night against the University of Idaho at 8 p.m. (MT) in Moscow, Idaho.

Utah State is 5-11 on the season and tied for third-place in the WAC with a 3-2 league record following a three-set win against Louisiana Tech (25-18, 25-20, 25-11) and a three-set loss to New Mexico State (25-19, 25-21, 25-22) at home last weekend. USU is led by senior outside hitter Melissa Osterloh who is averaging 4.32 points, 3.65 kills, 1.77 digs, 0.58 blocks and 0.38 service aces per set, while sophomore middle blocker Katie Astle is hitting .355 and averaging 1.73 kills and 0.95 blocks per set. Sophomore setter Chelsea Fowles is also playing well for USU as she is hitting .312 and averaging 9.72 assists, 1.58 digs and 0.53 blocks per set. As a team, Utah State is hitting .171 on the season as compared to a .228 hitting percentage for its opponents.

Idaho is 10-6 on the season and tied for third-place in the WAC with a 3-2 league record following a five-set win at Nevada and a three-set win at Fresno State last weekend. The Vandals, who are 3-1 at home this year, are led by senior outside hitter Haley Larsen who is hitting .228 on the season and averaging 4.47 kills and 2.42 digs per set. As a team, Idaho is hitting .210 this year as compared to a .164 hitting percentage for its opponents. Idaho returns six starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that went 13-17 overall and finished in fifth-place in the WAC with a 9-7 league record.

Utah State is 15-14 all-time against Idaho, which includes a 5-7 record in Moscow. USU split its season series with the Vandals last year as it won in Logan in three sets and lost at Idaho in four sets.

Utah State is 44-67 (.396) on the road over the last nine years, which includes a 28-40 (.412) record against league opponents. Thus far this year, USU is 1-3 on the road and 2-8 away from home.

Following its match against the Vandals, USU will play at Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.