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Show StatesmanSports Monday, Aug. 3/, 2009 Page 7 Ags open strong, fade at Weber St. Invitational By CONNOR JONES senior writer The USU women's volleyball team came out strong, winning their season opener for the first time in three seasons Friday at the Best Western Canyon Pines Weber State Invitational. However, day two of the tournament proved troublesome as USU lost its final two games, finishing the weekend with a 1-2 record. Friday's game against tournament host Weber State was dominated early in the first set by USU, who scored the first seven points of the game. The Aggies went on to sail past the Wildcats in the first set 25-14. Weber State came out swinging in the second set, stopping the Aggies momentum by winning 25-21. During the third set the Aggies hit a .267 (10-2-30) percentage and held Weber to a .167 (16-9-42) hitting percentage taking the set 25-20. Utah State didn't look back going into the fourth set limiting the Wildcat's hitting percentage to a -.071 (6-8-28) while themselves hitting a game high .286 (135-28) and beating the Wildcats in the final set 25-14. USU won the game with a final of three sets to one, while finishing the match hitting .206 (48-22-126) and limiting Weber State to a .056 (35-28-125) hitting percentage. USU had 12 more digs than Weber (53-41) and three more blocks; both teams finished the match with five service aces. The four team tournament also included Utah Valley University and Gonzaga, both of which the Aggie women faced off against Saturday. USU played Gonzaga on the morning of day two, in a close battle the Aggies lost, three sets to two (25-20, 17-25, 25-22, 21-25, 8-15). USU played well offensively in the first set with a .361 (17-4-36) hitting percentage, even better than their previous game's high. Although the Bulldogs hit a .385 (14-4-26) percentage, the Aggies were strong enough to lake the first sei. The Aggies hitting percentage plummeted during the second set when they hit only a .030 (9-8-33) percent. Gonzagii hit a .259 (13-6-27) in the second set which led to a 25-17 Bulldog win. The Aggies countered in the third set, beating out the Bulldogs 25-22 and taking a two set to one lead. While Gonzaga's game didn't change much in the final two sets, the Aggies hitting percentages fell hard reaching only .020 and -.208, respectively. While USU hung on in game four winning 25-21, they were dominated in the final set 8-15, giving Gonzaga the win. USU's story of the loss was more than only hitting percentage, Gonzaga out-dug the Aggies 68-49 and outblocked them 17-12 in the match. Standout players against Gonzaga were sophomore opposite side-hitter Emily Kortsen from Hollister, Calif., who had eight SENIOR SYDNE PORTER-GARNER, 18, knocks a ball over the net while teammates Rachel Feuz, 12, and Heather Pond, 21, try for the block during USU's blue and white scrimmage. The Aggies went 1-2 at the Weber State Invitational this past weekend, beating tournament host Weber State and losing to Gonzaga and Utah Valley University. TYLER LARSON photo digs for USU and a season-high 12 kills. Junior middle blocker Shantell Durrant from American Fork, Utah, had a career high 10 kills and a career tying five blocks in the game. Durrant also had the highest hitting percentage for the game with .333. Christine Morrill, junior libero from Neola, Utah, had two service aces along with a season-high 24 kills. The Aggie women came out hard on the Wolverines hitting a .433 (22-7-51) percentage that allowed them to win the first set by seven. But UVU turned it on after only its second lost set of the tournament and swept USU the next three sets (25-13, 20-25, 23-25). UVU's team secured its second straight Division I Independent Championship title in the 2008 season and showed no signs of letting up this season leaving all three of its opponents this weekend gasping for breath, never allowing the opposing team to win more than one set in a match. Liz McArther, sophomore from St. George, Utah, had a strong weekend, surpassing her career-high in kills twice in three matches with 17 kills against Weber and 18 kills against UVU. Junior blocker Katie Astle from Sandy, Utah, tied her career-high with 11 kills and a .556 (11-1-18) hitting percentage against UVU. Morrill had 20 digs in the match. The Aggie women look to even out their season record when they return to the court against rival BYU in the Aggie's home opener at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Spectrum. -c. h .j@aggiem ail. usu. edit Sports A CLUB FIT WORKOUTS EXPERIENCE A CALORIE BURN LIKE NEVER BEFORE! Flexible 30 Minute Classes That Fit Your Schedule You Choose the Time We Guarantee Results}; UNLIMITED tanning, $17.95 , , — ^Racquet Bi-Weekly . Club— THE FIRST 25 STUDENTSTO SIGN UP L RECEIVE A FREE V . '—' — _ — — wwwvsportsaGadjemy/coni, * %} 655 N 200 E, North Logan, Utah | 435-753-7500. Offer expires September 30th — 5 Minutes From Campus Just North of tVal-Mart SPORTS ACADEMY MEMBERSHIP sportsacademy.com K.., S^fe1^^^"' Sign Up Before September 18th To Get One Months Free! If*-. Club • Your Results • Your * j— |