Utah State women’s volleyball hosted its annual Blue-White Preview on Tuesday night with the Blue team coming away with the 2-1 victory. Freshman outside hitter Simone Gibeau led the Blue team with 15 kills, hitting .212 in the win.
White led for much of the first set and had its first set point at 24-22 when sophomore right side Lauren Anderson recorded a kill off a set from junior libero Hannah Gleason. However, Blue countered with a four-point run to take the set, beginning with a kill from Gibeau and finishing behind three-straight errors by the White team for the 26-24 win.
White had another lead midway through the second set, with a 13-9 advantage following a kill by freshman middle Lauren O’Brien. Blue, once again, countered with a 7-1 run to take a 16-14 lead behind strong serving from freshman libero Tasia Taylor. Taylor recorded one of her two service aces on the night during the run as the Blue team never looked back. A final attacking error by White wrapped up the set for the Blue side, 25-22.
White bounced back from the first two sets and dominated the third, hitting .600 with 10 kills on 15 attempts with only one error. The performance allowed White to lead throughout the frame and included a six-point run to finish the set, 15-7.
White was led offensively by junior outside Kaylie Kamalu with a match-high 17 kills, hitting .375 (17-5-32) on the night. Junior setter Erica Moscoso, playing for White, led both teams with 38 assists. Freshman setter Kassidy Johnson directed the Blue attack, collecting 21 assists.
Utah State’s returning middles performed strong during the match as sophomore Hannah Smith led both teams with seven blocks, playing for the Blue squad. Sophomore Carly Lenzen was the most efficient attacker, hitting .727 with eight kills on 11 attempts without an error. Lenzen also led both squads with three service aces.
Taylor was tops on both teams in digs, logging 14 during the contest, and she was followed by Gleason with 12 digs for the White squad.
Overall, the Blue team finished the night hitting .175 (25-11-80) with the White team hitting .255 (45-18-106).
Utah State now looks to its season opener on Friday when the Aggies travel to Lubbock, Texas, for the Texas Tech Fall Invitational. USU is slated to face Texas Tech, Houston and Louisiana-Lafayette during the tournament with its first match against TTU on Friday at 10 a.m.
Kyle Cottam is the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at Utah State University.