Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
- Utah State's women's volleyball team defeated Tennessee in the NCAA tournament Thursday.
- The Aggies won a five-set match (25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11).
- USU advances to face Arizona State Friday, marking their first NCAA win since 2001.
The drought is over.
It's been an unforgettable season for Utah State's volleyball program and it will continue for at least another day.
USU dominated the end of the first set and the entire second, and then regrouped in a decisive fifth set en route to an intense five-set victory (25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11) over seventh-seeded Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday in Tempe, Arizona. It was the program's first NCAA tourney win since 2001 — a year none of the current players were alive.
Up next for the Aggies, who extended their memorable winning streak to 22, is a Thursday showdown against second-seeded Arizona State on Friday at 6 p.m. The Sun Devils, ranked eighth nationally in the latest AVCA Poll, advanced to the round of 32 with a sweep of Coppin State.
"I think we all just have a common goal," USU standout setter Kaylie Kofe said in a post-match interview with ESPN+. "We love winning and we're so competitive, and that's why I love this team. Like, we all come out there ready to work and I can count on all my teammates to do their job."
It appeared to be smooth sailing for the Aggies after they raced out to a 2-0 lead. USU (24-7) won the final six points of the opening set and scored 14 of the first 17 points of the second. The Volunteeers (20-8), ranked 18th nationally, did pare their deficit to six points on a trio of occasions in the second set, but the Mountain West regular season and tournament champions slammed the door with a 5-1 run.
Tennessee, making its five straight appearance at the NCAA tourney, refused to go down without a fight, though, and it started behind the service line. The Volunteeers had zero aces during the first two sets, but a whopping eight during the next two to claw their way back into the match. Even when the Aggies didn't give up an ace, they were routinely out of system in sets three and four.
USU was undaunted in the decisive set, though, as it never trailed. The Aggies benefited from three early attack errors by the Volunteeers and raced out to an 8-4 advantage. Andrea Simovski came through with a trio of kills early in the set for USU.
The Volunteers refused to fold, though, as they won back-to-back lengthy points to get as close as 12-11. There were several intense rallies during the scrappy fifth set. Tennessee actually had a chance to pull even at 12-12, but Tierney Barlow and Loryn Helgesen teamed up for a massive block for the designated visitors.
That was the first of three consecutive Aggie points as Barlow extended the advantage to 14-12 after back-to-back-to-back incredible digs by the Volunteeers. Barlow, who ranks fourth nationally in hitting percentage, then terminated any chance of a Tennessee comeback with one of her patented decisive kills off the slide on match point.
It was another clutch performance by Barlow, who accounted for a match-high 16 kills on just 25 swings as she finished with a hitting percentage of .560. The senior middle blocker also matched Helgensen with a team-high four blocks.
"So valuable (and) not even just on the volleyball court," Kofe answered when asked how valuable Barlow is to the team. "I mean, her slide, obviously, I utilize it a lot. But just as a person, we all love her, we all look up to her and just having that maturity that she has is so great for us."
Likewise, the Aggies received a clutch performance from Kofe, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year — USU's first-ever conference MVP recipient. The former walk-on from Idaho Falls contributed with a match-leading 57 assists, to go along with eight digs, three kills and a solo block. The sophomore kept Tennessee's block off-balance on several occasions throughout the match, especially with her back sets.
"I've just had a lot of gratitude lately," Kofe answered when asked how special of a journey this has been for her from walk-on to star player. "I mean, I didn't have the most traditional recruiting process and especially coming in as a walk-on, it just means a lot to be here. Like, this is a moment we've all dreamed of as little girls and getting to win (in the NCAA tourney), I'm so grateful."
As well as Kofe and Barlow performed, it was a complete team effort by the Aggies, who got 14 kills, four blocks and seven digs from Helgesen, 14 kills and six digs from Mountain West Tournament MVP Andrea Simovski, 12 kills from Mara Sliglic, eight kills from Lauren Larkin and 16 digs and two aces from Kendal Thompson. Larkin attacked at a .500 clip as USU's middle blockers dominated at times.
The Aggies were consistently the more efficient team offensively and that's the biggest reason they prevailed. Case in point: USU finished with 68 kills to Tennessee's 59 and recorded a .312 hitting percentage to the Volunteeers' .228. The two teams were dead even in digs (62-62) and blocks (9-9), while Tennessee enjoyed an 8-4 edge in aces.
USU put away its first eight swings of the second set — an impressive accomplishment against off the premier programs in the Southeastern Conference. Barlow produced six kills on seven swings in the set. Stiglic flat-out got the job done with seven kills and a hitting percentage of .700 in a first set that featured nine ties and two lead change.
Utah State's pin hitters were successful time and time again hitting off high hands in the early going of Thursday's showdown.
Dynamic pin hitter Starr Williams was a menace at times for the Volunteeers as she produced a team-best 15 kills on 31 swings. Hayden Kubik and reserve Sydney Jones chipped in with 12 putaways each for the designated hosts.
