WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL: The Aggies will host Weber State in its home opener on Tuesday, Aug. 31 in the Smith Spectrum at 7 p.m.

Utah State is 2-0 on the season after winning the 2010 Utah Classic with victories against UC Davis (3-0) and Utah (3-1) last weekend. Its win at Utah snapped a 13-match road losing streak against the Utes dating back to the 1990 season.

USU is led by junior outside hitter Liz McArthur who is hitting .507 on the year and averaging 6.29 kills and 2.57 digs per set, while senior middle blocker Shantell Durrant is hitting .429 and averaging 2.00 kills and 0.86 blocks per set. As a team, Utah State is hitting .310 this season as compared to a .213 hitting percentage for its opponents.

Weber State is 0-3 on the season after dropping matches to Idaho (3-1), Washington State (3-1) and UC Irvine (3-0) at a tournament hosted by Washington State. The Wildcats are led by sophomore outside hitter Bethany Wray who is hitting .125 and averaging 2.73 kills and 2.00 digs per set. As a team, WSU is hitting .110 on the season as compared to a .249 hitting percentage for its opponents. Weber State, who is picked to finish eighth in the Big Sky Conference this season, return two starters and six letterwinners from last year's team that went 8-21 on the season and finished in a tie for seventh-place in the Big Sky with a 5-11 league mark.

Utah State is 31-19 all-time against Weber State, which includes a 17-7 record at home. Utah State has won 10 of the last 11 matches played in the series including a four-set win in Ogden to begin the 2009 season. USU is also 18-16 (.529) all-time in home openers, including a 3-1 record under head coach Grayson DuBose. Last year the Aggies won its home opener against Brigham Young in five sets.

Utah State is 81-36 (.692) at home in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum during the last 10 years, which includes an 18-6 (.750) record against non-conference opponents and a 13-4 (.765) record against teams from the state of Utah.

Following its match against Weber State, USU will travel to Tempe, Ariz., to compete in the Arizona State hosted Sheraton Classic over the weekend. The Aggies will begin the tournament on Friday against San Diego State at 11 a.m. (MT), followed by a match against Seattle University at 6 p.m. Utah State will then conclude the tournament on Saturday as it faces the host Sun Devils at 2 p.m.

WOMEN'S SOCCER: The Aggies, in conjunction with the Utah Youth Soccer Association and South Cache Soccer League, will be hosting Youth Soccer Day on Sept. 10 at the Chuck and Gloria Bell Soccer field as the Aggies host Colorado College.

Kickoff for the match will be at 4 p.m., while activities begin at 2:30 p.m. with free hot dogs, drinks, prizes, and other festivities leading up to the game including mini-clinics put on by Utah Youth Soccer Association Technical Director Greg Maas and Assistant Technical Director Rick Flores.

Halftime will also be filled with fun as participants can compete against Big Blue and test their soccer skills. Drawings will be held to choose the ball kids for the match and additional prizes will include tickets to the Utah State football game against Idaho State Sat., Sept. 11 at 6 p.m.

Kids are encouraged to wear their uniforms. Those wearing team uniforms are eligible for the half time contest. Following the match the Aggies will be signing autographs. Don't forget to wear a your Aggie jersey.

This week Utah State continues its road trip heading to the Golden State for the first of six matches in California. USU will take on Long Beach State on Friday at 6 p.m. and San Diego State on Sunday at 2 p.m.

WOMEN'S SOCCER: Utah State goalkeeper Molli Merrill was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. This is the first career WAC Player of the Week honor for Merrill. It is also the second-straight player of the week honor for the Aggies after junior forward Shantel Flanary earned the WAC Offensive Player of the Week award last week.

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Merrill, a junior from Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful HS), registered her second-straight shutout as the Aggies tied Idaho State, 0-0, in double overtime in Pocatello on Sunday. Merrill had two saves in 110 minutes of action, facing 13 shots, including seven in the first half. It marks the first time in her USU career that she has had back-to-back shutouts. She has now gone 202 minutes without allowing a goal, dating back to the season opener against Weber State on Aug. 20.

Yolanda McMillion, a sophomore forward from New Mexico State, led the crimson Aggies to the Hotel Encanto Aggie Classic title with the first hat trick in school history to earn WAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Merrill, who is in her second season as the Aggies regular starting goalkeeper, has allowed only one goal in three matches this season for a goals against average of 0.31. She has made seven saves this season. She has a stellar .875 save percentage this season.

USU continues its road trip heading to the Golden State for the first of six matches in California. USU will take on Long Beach State on Friday at 6 p.m. and San Diego State on Sunday at 2 p.m.

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