Logan, Utah - The University of Nevada (5-7, 1-3 WAC) volleyball team dropped its third Western Athletic Conference match in a row and second consecutive five set match 3-2 at Utah State (4-10, 2-1 WAC) Saturday night at the Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah. The Wolf Pack lost by scores of 11-25, 25-17, 26-24, 22-25 and 16-18 to fall to 5-7 on the season and 1-3 in the WAC. With the victory the Aggies improved to 4-10 on the year and 2-1 in the conference.
Trailing 2-1 USU scored a 25-22 victory in set four to force a fifth and deciding set. The fifth set was tied 10 times and there were six changes before the Aggies prevailed 18-16 to take the match 3-2. The Pack led 14-12 and needed just a point to close out the match but USU scored the next three points to move in front 15-14. With the set tied a 16-16 USU got kills from Melissa Osterloh and Emily Kortsen off assists from setter Chelsea Fowles to take the match. Both teams struggled offensively as the Aggies hit .103 and Nevada .043 in the final set.
USU jumped all over the Pack in set one scoring an easy 25-11 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the match. The Aggie offense sizzled at .370 while the Pack posted a negative .031 attack percentage.
Nevada rebounded in set two hitting .300 and the Aggies hit .214. With the set tied early at 3-3 the Pack put together a 12-4 run to go on top 15-7 and cruised to the 25-17 victory to even the match at one set each.
It appeared USU would win set three leading 24-20 but Nevada scored the final six points to win the set 26-24. Junior setter Sonnie Sei served the final five points of the set. Both offenses slipped in the third set as the Pack hit .027 and USU .133.
The Aggies aneeded victory in set four to send the match to a deciding fifth set and did just that with a 25-22 victory. With the set tied a 22-22 USU put together a 3-0 run to close out the set and even the match a 2-2. USU was victorious in set five 18-16 to win the match 3-2.
Sophomore middle blocker Lindsay Baldwin led the Pack with 13 kills and fellow sophomore Kylie Harrington added 10. Sei dished out 43 assists in the match. Nicole Link (15), Allison Hernandez (12) and Lauren Kelly (10) all reached double figures in digs for Nevada.
Osterloh, Jessalyn Payne and Katie Astle topped the Aggies with 16, 13, and 11 kills respectively. Fowles recorded a double-double with 52 assists and 12 digs. Christine Morrill finished with a match-high 27 digs and Heather Hillier added 11.
The Pack hit just .110 in the match and USU .210. The Aggies held a slim 8-7 blocking advantage. Junior Sage Aune had five blocks for Nevada and Payne five for the Aggies.
Nevada continues its two-match road trip traveling to Las Vegas, Nev. to play UNLV in a nonconference match on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
