Nov. 7, 2009

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's women's volleyball team will continue Western Athletic Conference play this weekend with a match at third-ranked Hawai'i on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. (MT).

Utah State is 14-12 on the season and 5-8 in WAC play following a four-set win at San Jose State Thursday. USU is led by sophomore outside hitter Liz McArthur who is hitting .181 and averaging 3.85 kills, 1.69 digs and 0.49 blocks per set, while sophomore opposite side hitter Emily Kortsen is hitting .217 and averaging 2.12 kills, 2.48 digs and 0.56 blocks per set. Junior middle blocker Shantell Durrant is also playing well for USU as she is hitting .289 and averaging 1.74 kills and 1.10 blocks per set. As a team, Utah State is hitting .203 on the season as compared to a .190 hitting percentage for its opponents.

Hawai'i, who is ranked No. 3 in the nation, is 22-2 on the season and 12-0 in WAC play following a three-set win at home against Fresno State Friday. UH is led by sophomore outside hitter Kanani Danielson who is hitting .325 and averaging 4.06 kills per set. As a team, the Rainbow Wahine are hitting .315 on the season as compared to a .144 hitting percentage for its opponents. UH returns four starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that went 31-4 overall and tied for first-place in the WAC with a 15-1 league record. Dave Shoji is in his 34th season as head coach of Hawai'i and has an overall record of 1,006-175-1.

Utah State is 8-36 all-time against Hawai'i, which includes a 4-17 road record. The last time the two teams played in Hawai'i was on Nov. 1, 2008 with UH winning in three sets. The last time USU won at Hawai'i was on Nov. 11, 2007 as the Aggies shocked then No. 10 Hawai'i in three sets (30-28, 31-29, 30-27) to snap an 108-conference match home winning streak for the Rainbow Wahine. It was also the first win for USU against UH in its last 20 meetings overall.

Utah State is 10-50 (.167) against ranked opponents over the last 10 years and has won two of its last five matches against ranked teams. The last time Utah State played a ranked team was on Nov. 1, 2008 in Honolulu, when it lost to Hawai'i, 3-0.

Following its match at Hawai'i, Utah State will take the next eight days off before hosting the Rainbow Wahine on Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. (MT).