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Show Statesman Sports Page 10 Friday, Nov 5, 2010 Aggies rope Broncos with three set win By TYLER HUSKINSON web editor Junior outside hitter Liz McArthur pounded 11 kills and senior libero Christine Morrill posted a record-high for kills in three-set match with 24 to lead the Utah State Aggies (18-7, 6-6 WAC) over the Boise State Broncos (1711, 4-8) in a three-set sweep Thursday night (25-18, 25-22, 25-23). The Aggies had already lost to the Broncos on the road this season and knew they would have a fight on their hands. "That was really big," senior middle blocker Katie Astle said. "We're just giving it everything we've got." The first set went back and forth, and there were five ties and three lead changes. The Broncos had cut the Aggie lead to 17-16 when sophomore outside hitter Fiona Jones committed a service error and the Aggies went on an 8-1 run to notch the first set victory. McArthur had four kills during the first set and Morrill had 10 assists. The Aggies disrupted the Broncos, holding them to a -.024 hitting percentage in the first set. "We knew Boise is really scrappy, too so we had to match their play," Morril said. "We went there and played them, we got outworked defensively. Being scrappy is a big deal. We knew this was a big game, so I think we were out there just giving it our all, especially on defense I think that was our main mindset for that game. Every win that we can get right now is a big deal. We're playing really well as a team right now." The Aggies jumped out to a fast start in set two and led by as much eight points. The Broncos wouldn't go away quietly, however and cut the Aggie lead to 23-21 late in the set. The Aggies were able to hold their composure and McArthur along with sophomore outside hitter Josselyn White each notched a kill to close out the set. The fact that the Aggies were able to battle through adversity was especially positive for head coach Grayson DuBose. "I thought we showed a lot of character," DuBose said. "I thought we did a really nice job battling back. I was real pleased with how we played and the composure we showed." The third set was closer than the Aggies would like. There were 10 lead changes and four ties in the set and the Aggies weren't able to pull away till late in the set. Jones put the Broncos up 19-17 with a powerful kill, forcing the Aggies into a timeout. Bronco's senior middle blocker Alisha Young came up with huge block out of the timeout, but the Aggies went on a 8-3 run to capture the set and the match. "Typically for us, we let up in third right there towards the end and we battled back and scored," DuBose said. "We gave them a little bit of momentum going into that third set and I thought we just stayed steady for a long period of time." With the season winding down every win is crucial for the Aggies. Six teams move on to the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas and the Aggies are in fifth place. "We know that we're coming to the end of the season and every win is big for us right now," Astle said. The Idaho Vandals and the Nevada Wolf Pack are the two teams just ahead of the Aggies in the WAC standings and the Aggies will have a chance to take on both teams at home in the upcoming week. The Aggies dispatched the Vandals in four sets on the road this season, but they know there isn't a single game they can take for granted and aggressive tough play will be crucial to success. "We need to be aggressive," DuBose said. "We need to go hit the ball hard and take risks. We talk about that every day. It's nice to have something to work on at this stage of the season. We can still improve a little." Morrill said, "Idaho is a great team and coming here they can be a completely different team. That's a really big match for us." The match against the Vandals is slated for Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Spectrum. - ty.d.hus@aggiemaiLusu.edu Now that's the Jazz team I wanna see Wow, what a differagainst the Celtics, who ence one week can have also been very impresmake. In the space of sive, Miami has turned on Eye on just a couple days, the the burners and reeled off the Jazz totally redeem four straight wins, the last themselves from a forhardwood three of which have been by 20+ points. Miami is killing gettable week one. Week one for the teams with their stingy team MARK ISRAELSEN defense, holding their oppoJazz went a little like this: Shoot 38.6 pernents to 84 points and only cent and commit 22 34 percent shooting in the turnovers to get creamed by divisionlast three games. rival Denver in their first game. Then Easily the Heat's most impressive win get outscored 50-16 in bench scoring of the week came last Friday when they to get beat by the not-so-great Phoenix destroyed the Magic by 26, but don't Suns. Not a very promising start after a jump on the wagon just yet, as their perfect preseason, if you ask me. other three wins came against perennial But like I said, a single week can bottom-dwellers; the Nets, 76ers and Tmake all the difference. Last Sunday, Wolves. something clicked for Utah and they Meanwhile, the Celtics - Rajon destroyed a young, talented Oklahoma Rondo in particular - have been a sight City team 120-99. Williams, Millsap, to behold. Rondo has been absolutely and 'Big Al' all had double-doubles for unstoppable as he has racked up 82 the Jazz, Millsap leading the way with assists in his first 5 games, including an NBA record 67 through his first four. 30 points and 16 boards. Utah followed up that performance Rondo's play has propelled the Celtics with a dominating show against the to a 4-1 start, but a loss to lowly Raptors, scoring 41 in the first quarter Cleveland and only a 4-point home win before cruising to a 125-108 win. Deron against the Knicks shows that the other Williams had a monster game with 22 players need to step up, especially with points, 14 assists, and 8 rebounds. a four-game road trip coming up that For many Jazz fans it was a moment includes Oklahoma City, Dallas, and a of "where was that kind of play in the rematch with the Heat. first two games?!" And they're right, The surprise of the season so far has these Jazz don't even look like the got to be the Hornets. I mean, c'mon, same players we saw in the first week. who honestly thought that the Hornets The bench is stepping up and Deron is would go 4-0 in their first week and a back to being arguably the best point half? With a rookie coach and disapguard in the league. pointing 2009 (in which they went But hey, wait a minute. This offsea37-45) the Hornets have come into this son was a busy one for Utah as well, season on fire and ready to play. But and they underwent a pretty serious are they for real? Who knows, but we makeover. After all, they lost Carlos should have a better idea tonight as Boozer, Wes Matthews, and Kyle Korver they take on LeBron and the Heat. and added six new guys including Al The only other undefeated teams as of Jefferson, Raja Bell, and rookie Gordon Nov. 3 are the Hawks and the defending champion L.A. Lakers. The Hawks Hayward. I mean, come on, for all the changes are 5-0, but their schedule so far has they've had, the Jazz are playing pretty been laughably easy, with their first real dang good! test coming this weekend as they take Crushing the Raptors doesn't mean on the Suns and Magic on back-to-back much, but beating the preseason MVP nights. favorite Kevin Durant and the Thunder The Lakers are undefeated also and by 21? That's impressive at any point are averaging almost 114 points a game in the season, not to mention the third and playing some of the best team ball game. in the league. Kobe is just Kobe; Gasol, in my mind, is the most skilled big man The only thing that worries me about the Jazz so far? Their lack of defense. in the league, and I think the Lakers are Utah's defense has allowed nearly 107 still the definite favorites to repeat as points per game - way too many for a NBA champs. team looking to challenge in the West. Buckle up, because this is going to I know those first two losses got all be one wild and fun ride. the Jazz fans a little on edge, but don't worry, if Utah is playing this good MARK ISRAELSEN is a freshman major- when they still haven't "figured it all ing in mechanical engineering and a lifeout" - everybody better watch out. long Jazz fan. Comments can be sent to You know who else has been makmark.israelsen@aggiemaiLusu.edu . ing headlines? Yep, you guessed it, the Heat. After their opening night dud :10111 Ill %Ilk 411114111 :111.:°;::::;r4F114:1111 1111414W 4 14 114 1,4V1 111i 1111;111111 11"1"-111111,11 SENIOR SHANTELL DURRANT goes up for a spike in Utah States' three set-win over Boise State on Thursday night. Durrant finished the night with six kills and 9 points, as the Aggies improved their record to 18-7 overall, and 6-6 in the WAC. USU avenged an earlier season loss to Boise State with the win, and will take on Idaho this Saturday at 7 p.m. BRANDON FONDA photo Bartlett: tight end has huge game continued from page 8 dots in the passing game, and we were able to do that in the second half last week. Kellen was a big part of that." Woods wasn't the only USU coach singing Bartlett's praises after Saturday game, and he's not the only coach looking forward to utilizing the tight end's talents more as the season comes down to its final four games. According to Aggie headman Gary Andersen, the play of Bartlett along with running back Kerwynn Williams provided the play-making spark that USU has been looking for all season - although it came a half too late against Nevada. "To me the biggest difference in the offense in the second half was Kerwynn Williams and Kellen Bartlett, period," Andersen said. "They made plays when the ball was thrown to them ... They did a tremendous job, and we haven't had that all year long from our wide receivers." Andersen went on to say that having Bartlett line up wide as a wide receiver gives the Aggies an advantage against other teams, because with the tight end's size, he creates mismatches against defensive backs. "Teams have made a living having guys like Kellen out there," Andersen said. "There are mismatches that take place because you can't put a corner on him because they will get pushed off and you can't put a safety on him because that still is a mismatch." Not that Bartlett will be outracing defensive backs anytime soon. He laughs when talking about his speed, but says the oft-cited, end-all, be-all attribute for receivers and tight ends is overrated if a player can take advantage of his other physical gifts. "I'm never going to be as fast as a wide receiver, so one thing as tight ends, you've got to be sure you run your routes real well," Bartlett said. "A good way to counter speed is to be physical with (defensive backs) because they don't want to get in your dish and hit you." Bartlett and his teammates are looking forward to building off the momentum from the Nevada secondhalf this Saturday. While he acknowledges that students at USU might be ready to make the transition to basketball season, he and the Utah State coaches warn that giving up on the Aggie football team would be a mistake. "Just don't give up on us," Bartlett said. "I promise you guys that we're going to come out and turn this season around for us. We're going to play well." Bartlett, along with Andersen, said the team is refocused heading into its final four games, and is working to take one game at a time. They know the team's oncebright postseason hopes have all but extinguished, but said the Aggie football program has a real opportunity to show it has finally turned a corner just when people think it's down for the count. "It's time for us to really get to that point where we know we're at," Bartlett said. "I think the second half of that Nevada game is a springboard, and I think it's going to carry on into this game and I think we're going to really go out there and play well." -adam.nettina@aggiemail. usu.edu Green: three point shooter primed continued from page 8 but doesn't let it get out of hand. "I love to win, and it's a competitive sport," he said, "but I really just want to have fun." This season, Green said he plans to work on his personal defense. "I need to work on my one-on-one along with a bit of ball handling," he said. The guard will be wearing a different jersey for Utah State this year, after being handed the number 12 when he first arrived at USU. "I just didn't like it," he said of his old number. "I needed a change." Ideally, Green said he would want to be number 24, his favorite number, but that one has been claimed by senior guard Tyler Newbold for his career. His decision to adopt number 23 for this season wasn't just based on proximity to his favorite number, however. Green hopes it will help him capture some of the magic of the game's best player in history. "I've always really looked up to Michael Jordan," Green said, "so I decided that was a good way to go." Green will graduate in May with a degree in psychology. After graduation, he plans to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Green said the team has a lot of chemistry which helps them work really well together. "We can hang out and have fun, we don't fight," he said. "That's part of what's special about this team. Our coaches recruit good, quality guys who are also good, quality players." Overall, Green said he is very excited about this season. "It's my senior year, so I'm just going to play hard and have fun," he said. "No regrets." - megan.allen@aggiemaiLusu.edu |