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Show Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010 Page 5 WednesdayS110 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.utahstatesman.com Despite loss, Aggie hitters still drawing national attention BY USU ATHLETICS FRESNO STATE PUNT RETURNER RASHAD EVANS returns a punt 50 yards against Utah State during Saturday's 41-24 win. Evans helped spearhead Fresno's special teams, which outplayed USU during the game.Aggie kicker and punter Peter Caldwell (#9) was injured later in the game when USU had a punt blocked, and his status is questionable for this week's game. TODD JONES photo Nothing special about Aggie special teams Despite losing its first match of the season this past weekend, Utah State's volleyball team is once again receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 poll that was released Monday. The Aggies, who are 12-1 this year, received 14 votes in this week's poll to rank 29th in the country. Utah State received 23 votes in last week's poll to rank 28th in the nation and garnered nine votes two week's ago to rank 32nd. Utah State went 3-1 last week as it defeated Brigham Young (3-2) on the road and then finished in thirdplace at its own Utah State Invitational with wins against Loyola Marymount (3-2) and UC Riverside (3-1), to go along with its first loss of the year to Utah Valley (3-2). Utah State is one of just two teams from the Western Athletic Conference to be included in this week's poll as Hawai'i is ranked fifth in the country. USU is also the only team from the state of Utah to receive at least two votes this week. Prior to this year, the last time a Utah State volleyball team received votes in the Top 25 poll was at the beginning of the 2002 season when it was ranked 36th in the preseason. USU's 2000 team was ranked as high as 18th in the country and finished the year ranked 22nd, while the 2001 team finished the year ranked 21st as both teams advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. With its 12-1 record thus far this year, Utah State is tied with the 1979 AIAW National runner-up team for the third-best start to a season in school history as that team also won 12 of its first 13 matches. Utah State begins Western Athletic Conference play this week as it travels to Honolulu to play No. 5 Hawaii on Thursday, Sept. 23 at 11 p.m. (MT). After dismal performance against Fresno State, USU will look to fix overlooked third component of the game By MARK ISRAELSON staff writer After a game meant to be a "next step" ended in disappointment, all Utah State's players and coaches could think about was one thing — special teams. In that pivotal facet of the game, the Aggies struggled to perform and it eventually contributed heavily to their 41-24 loss against Fresno State. "We had big issues on special teams," said USU head coach Gary Andersen. "Special teams was really the key factor." For most of the first half, however, the Aggies outperformed the Bulldogs, never trailing and executing efficiently on offense and defense. USU's special teams also played well, highlighted by kicker Peter Caldwell's impressive 50-yard field goal early in the second half. The special teams dilemma started just before halftime when Fresno State, through a brilliant punt which pinned USU on the one-yard line and then forced the Aggies to go three and out on the ensuing series. Utah State was forced to punt from their own end zone and because of poor punt coverage, Fresno State's Shaun Evans ripped off a 50yard return that set up the Bulldogs on the seven-yard line. Fresno would score easily just before halftime when quarterback Ryan Colburn ran the ball into the endzone, tying the game and shifting momentum in their favor. The second half started didn't see a dramatic improvement from USU's special teams as the struggles continued against the Bulldog return game. Fresno wide receiver Jalen Saunders took the opening kickoff 30 yards to the 45-yard line, giving the Bulldogs a short field and a good scoring opportunity. "The second half we came I See SPECIAL, page 6 THE UTAH STATE VOLLEYBALL TEAM lost its first game of the season this past weekend when the team dropped a heartbreaker to rival Utah Valley in five sets.The Aggies are 12-1 on the year, and continue to garner national attention for their play. They received 14 votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll, good for No. 29 in the country. Statesman file photo Women's soccer struggles in California road-trip, looks to rebound Mulford saved three shots, corning up big on passes crossed into staff writer the box according to head coach Heather Cairns. "She was really strong on corners Utah State's women's soccer team (hit into) the box," Cairns said. It battled hard this weekend as goalwas good for her to get her first keeper Ashlyn Mulford earned her shutout." The Highlanders did everything first collegiate shutout in just her second start in a 0-0 draw at UCthey could to get the ball past Riverside Sunday. Mulford and into the net, as two Mulford, a 5'5" different shots hit the keeper out of Cyprus crossbar and bounced High School, started "We had a lot harmlessly out of play. of heart today, Mulford is expected to the last two matches on the Aggies' start until junior keeper but X's and O's Molli Merrill recovers California road were not where from injury and is is trip, which saw the we wanted them team play Loyola currently listed as "dayMarymount and UC- to be. We just to-day" on the injury Riverside. Utah State weren't as sharp report. The Aggie offense lost 2-0 against Louola as we needed to Marylmount on got off to a quick start Friday before squaring be" against UC-Riverside, Heather Cairns, firing off three shots in off with UC-Riverside on Sunday. USU Women's the first five and a half During Friday's minutes of the game, Soccer Coach but were unable to capiloss to Loyola Marymount, Mulford talize. made her first career start, making Senior striker Lauren Hansen five saves. Freshman midfielder had an opportunity to score when Kendra Pemberton had three shots she came down the left flank during the loss, while junior forfor a shot. The ball deflected off ward Shantel Flanery had a shot on Highlander keeper Jessica White's goal.The Lions had 14 total shots in heel towards the goal, but was their win, and received a goal from cleared off the line by Riverside Tawni Martino on a header and a defender Ciara Hilpert, robbing the 15-yard shot by Julie Gallaudet. 2008 WAC all-tournament team Against the Highlanders, member of the winning goal. By TAVIN STUCK! The Aggies out-shot the The Aggies had seven total shots on they face two in-state rivals this Highlanders by a margin of 20-16, goal, but all were turned away by week. They will travel to Salt but many were longer shots cornWhite, Big West conference leader Lake to face Utah (1-9-0) on ing from outside the 18-yard box. in saves. Five of the UCR keeper's Thursday evening and will host No. 9 BYU (8Cairns said she was unhappy with saves carne in the first half. White the quality with which her offense now has 48 saves on the season. 0-1) on Saturday at executed. UC-Riverside committed 15 fouls, 4 p.m. "Our attack struggled," said compared to Utah State's six. UCR — tavin.stucki@ Cairns. "The crosses we had didn't also earned more corner kicks than aggiemail. have enough quality in the box to the visiting side, 9-6. The draw usu.edu finish them off. When you have 20brings USU's record to 3-2-4, which something shots you expect to score Cairns, who is the winningest soccer on a 1 to 10 ratio." coach in school history, said is disWEDNESDAY appointing. On the opposite bench, Riverside STARVING STUDENT head coach Veronica O'Brien was "We had a lot of heart today, pleased with the way the 1-6-1 but X's and O's were not where Highlanders performed. we wanted them to be," said ANY BUGE "I thought we played well. Cairns. "We just weren't as $200 R OFFR Overall, give our team credit," she sharp as we needed to vv/th student ID ALL DAY! said. "We played a solid opponent be." The Aggies that beat a top team in our conference (Long Beach State) last weekhave a chance to end." start another winning UC-Riverside's only goal so far of this season came from Melisa streak Escamilla in the team's only win, on as the road at Texas State. "For us to at least get the draw, that's a step forward for us today," O'Brien said. Hansen led the offensive effort for the Aggies with seven shots, four of which Be our friend on for special offers! were on goal in the 84 minutes she played. Cciree gEe the Aggies play San Din® State, Saterday 613Nii In the first half alone, USU placed 12 THE PLACE TO BE. 2271 N MAIN • NORTH LOGAN • 787-AGGY shots. SPE GALS! RggleS facebook |