Utah State women's volleyball fans will be able to get their first look at the 2015 squad when the Aggies host their annual Blue-White Preview on Tuesday at 7 p.m., on Kirby Court at the Wayne Estes Center. Fans will also be able to rub elbows with the team after the event during an autograph session.
USU is coming off the 2014 season where the team finished with an overall mark of 13-16, including a 9-9 ledger in the Mountain West. The Aggies posted most of their victories at home, where the team was 7-6, marking the ninth consecutive season under head coach Grayson DuBose that USU has had a winning record at home.
Utah State will feature several new starters in 2015 after the departure of five seniors and junior opposite Elle Brainard due to graduation. The 2015 roster is made up of eight returners but only returns 31 percent of its total kills from last season.
The Aggie offense will be paced by junior outside Kaylie Kamalu, who finished third on the team last season in kills, averaging 2.64 per set and hitting .151 (232-124-715). Kamalu started in 10 matches for the Aggies last season and joins junior libero Hannah Gleason (17 matches) and sophomore middle Hannah Smith (22 matches) as the only returners to have started in double-digit matches for Utah State in 2014.
Other returners include sophomore outside Rachel Gale, sophomore outside Kayla DeCoursey, sophomore defensive specialist Maddie Day and junior setter Erica Moscoso. Joining them is redshirt sophomore Carly Lenzen, who has fully recovered from a knee injury that sidelined her for the 2014 season after appearing in 18 matches as a true freshman in 2013.
Newcomers for the Aggies include sophomore transfer outside Lauren Anderson and four freshmen: setter Kassidy Johnson, middle Lauren O’Brien, outside Simone Gibeau and defensive specialist Tasia Taylor.
Tuesday night's scrimmage will feature three games with the final set to be played like a fifth set: first team to 15, win by two. The event is free.
Tickets for the season can be purchased online, at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum ticket office or by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.
Kyle Cottam is the assistant athletic director for media relations at Utah State University.