Utah State Volleyball to Host Nevada Thursday Night

Utah State [University] women's volleyball will host Nevada Thursday [Nov. 12] at 7 p.m. in the first of two home matches for the Aggies this week. USU fell 3-0 in the last meeting against the Wolf Pack in Reno, but have won seven of the last eight.

Utah State is 5-22 on the year, including a 1-12 record in the Mountain West. The Aggies are currently in the midst of a seven-match losing streak.

Offensively, USU continues to be powered by its outside hitters in junior outside Kaylie Kamalu with a team-best 294 kills, followed closely by sophomore outside Rachel Gale with 282 kills. The duo rank seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Mountain West, averaging 3.13 and 3.10 kills per set. Junior Erica Moscoso directs the attack with 431 assists on the year, averaging 7.98 per set, while the team is hitting .162 (1,045-519-3,241).

Defensively, junior libero Hannah Gleason is climbing the record books for single-season digs, collecting her 411th dig on the year at San José State and moving to ninth. Gleason needs two more digs to move into a tie for seventh and 20 more digs to move into a tie for sixth. Sophomore middle Carly Lenzen leads the Utah State block, totaling 82 on the year with seven solo and 75 assists.

Nevada is 11-15 on the year and 6-8 in the Mountain West and coming off back-to-back victories over UNLV and Fresno State last weekend.

The Wolf Pack hits .187 (1,178-556-3,329) as a team and is paced by junior right side Madison Morell and sophomore outside Madison Foley with 365 and 312 kills, respectively, second and fourth in the Mountain West. The duo also collect more than three kills per set, averaging 3.88 and 3.32 kills per set, respectively. Senior setter Taylar Rothfuss directs the attack, collecting 743 assists on the year and averaging 10.18 per set, second in the Mountain West. Nevada excels behind the service line, leading the Mountain West with 1.57 service aces per set.

Defensively, Nevada has allowed opponents to hit .220 (1,182-483-3,171) on the year. Senior libero Kara Kasser leads the team with 284 digs, averaging 3.02 per set, while senior middle Sam Willoughby leads the Wolf Pack block, collecting 87, including team bests of 13 solo and 74 assists and averaging 0.93 per set.

Utah State will return to Kirby Court at the Wayne Estes Center Saturday, facing San Diego State at 7 p.m.

Fans can purchase tickets for the 2015 season by contacting the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, on Facebook or on Instagram. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics or on Instagram.

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.