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Aggie Spikers Host Third-Ranked Hawai'i Monday Night
Nov. 15, 2009
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's women's volleyball team will continue Western Athletic Conference play this week with a home match against third-ranked Hawai'i on Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. (MT). Utah State is 14-13 on the season and 5-9 in WAC play following a four-set win at San Jose State and a three-set loss at Hawai'i last weekend. USU is led by sophomore outside hitter Liz McArthur who is hitting .179 and averaging 3.81 kills, 1.68 digs and 0.48 blocks per set, while sophomore opposite side hitter Emily Kortsen is hitting .215 and averaging 2.09 kills, 2.44 digs and 0.56 blocks per set. Junior middle blocker Shantell Durrant is also playing well for USU as she is hitting .290 and averaging 1.73 kills and 1.11 blocks per set. As a team, Utah State is hitting .202 on the season as compared to a .196 hitting percentage for its opponents. Hawai'i, who is ranked No. 3 in the nation, is 25-2 on the season and 15-0 in WAC play following a pair of road wins at Boise State (3-0) and Idaho (3-0) last weekend. UH is led by sophomore outside hitter Kanani Danielson who is hitting .328 and averaging 3.93 kills per set. As a team, the Rainbow Wahine are hitting .321 on the season as compared to a .142 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 1,009-175-1. Utah State is 8-37 all-time against Hawai'i, which includes a 4-12 record at home. The last time the two teams played in Logan was on Oct. 16, 2008 with UH winning in three sets. The last time USU won a match versus 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. The last time the Aggies defeated the Rainbow Wahine at home was on Nov. 12, 1981 in Logan in five games.
Utah State is 10-51 (.164) against ranked opponents over the last 10 years. Overall, USU has won two of its last six matches against ranked teams. The last time Utah State played a ranked team was on Nov. 8, 2009 in Honolulu, when it lost to Hawai'i, 3-0. Following its match against Hawai'i, Utah State will conclude its regular season by hosting Nevada on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. |
