By Wade Denniston

Chalk up the fifth straight victory for the Utah State University women's volleyball team as it defeated the University of Wyoming on Monday in Green River, Wyo.

The Aggies beat the Cowgirls in three games 15-5, 15-5, 15-9 in just over an hour before 712 fans at Green River High School.

"Everyone's attitude reflects the fact that we are on a five-match winning streak, and winning is contagious," USU head coach Tom Peterson said. "We are excited about being where we are right now in the conference, but we still need to get above .500 overall and that is one of our goals at this point of the season."

The win improves the Aggies' record to 6-8 overall. The team is 4-2 in the Eastern Division of the Big West Conference, good enough for a first-place tie with the University of Idaho and the University of Nevada-Reno.

USU hit .294 (52 kills, 17 errors, 119 attempts) in the match, while holding Wyoming to just .019 (29 kills, 27 errors, 105 attempts). In their last three matches, the Aggies have held their opponents to a hitting percentage below .050.

"We dictated what was going on right from the beginning," Peterson said. "(The Cowboys) were surprised" at how well the Aggies played.

Outside hitter Amy Goulding-Crosbie led USU with 20 kills. The junior hit .375 and recorded four digs and three assists.

Senior setter Lori Sargent-McKnight tallied a match-high 36 assists as she distributed the ball well for the Aggies.

"Lori ran a pretty good offense," Peterson said. "She set people all around the place."

Wyoming was led by Melody Friehauf who recorded nine kills, two errors and 18 attempts for a .389 hitting percentage.

"We were a better team than they were," Peterson said.

USU will return to Big West play as it hosts the University of California at Irvine (8-10 overall, 1-5 Big West) which is coming off a three-game loss to the College of William and Mary 15-10, 15-12, 15-13. The match will be Thursday in the Spectrum

Despite Irvine's losing record, the Aggies are not overlooking the Anteaters.

"Hopefully, we will continue to practice hard and get better because this weekend will be a tough one for us," Peterson said. "We could not lose to (California State University at) Fullerton or Irvine and still win our division."

USU also will host Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at the Spectrum. The Titans and Anteaters are tied for last place in the Western Division of the conference.

Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.

MS
DC