Tyler Castillo (@TylerCast_Jour) – Spear Reporter
San Jose State volleyball (18-7, 12-3 MW) was defeated by Utah State (18-8, 10-5 MW) on Thursday night 3-2. Snapping its three-game win streak.
The Spartans started off the two-game road trip at Logan, Utah with hopes of breaking the Aggies’ two-game win streak.
It was the opposite for SJSU volleyball as it could not close out the match despite having a 2-1 lead.
SJSU volleyball started the matchup with a 25-21 defeat in the first set.
The Spartans quickly recovered, winning the next two consecutive sets 25-18 and 25-22 putting them them in the lead.
The Aggies responded with a sports style UNO reverse card taking the fourth set 25-22. Sending the match to a fifth and final set.
This momentum was all Utah State needed to hold off the SJSU as it secured a tight 22-20 victory in the final set.
Both SJSU and Utah State were able to achieve identical digs with 29 and identical blocks with three.
The Aggies had a slight advantage by putting up 16.5 points, 12 kills, one ace, and 31 assists.
SJSU senior middle blocker Yazmin Pitpit had the most kills on the team with eight. She got on the board with four blocks and two digs.
Fifth-year libero Sarah Smevog led the team in digs with 18 and had six assists.
Utah State graduate student setter Carly Aigner-Swesey had 23 assists. Three of them came from sophomore setter Beatriz Rodrigues who led the aggies with 26 assists in the match.
Sophomore middle blocker Brooke Bryant was second in the kills leaderboard for the Spartans with two.
“Being in those types of moments, we got to execute a bit better,” said SJSU head coach Trent Kersten. “At the same time, we appreciate the high level volleyball match.”
SJSU volleyball will travel to Idaho to face off against Boise State on Saturday at 12 p.m.