Oct. 12, 2007

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State's women's volleyball team continues Western Athletic Conference play this weekend with a match at Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. (MT). USU has won seven of its last nine contests since starting the year with a 2-6 record.

Utah State is 9-8 on the season and in third-place in the WAC with a 6-2 league record following a three-game win against Louisiana Tech and a four-game loss to 22nd-ranked New Mexico State at home last weekend. USU is led by senior opposite side hitter Amanda Nielson who is averaging 5.64 points, 4.60 kills, 2.27 digs, 1.04 blocks and 0.49 service aces per game, while junior outside hitter Melissa Osterloh is averaging 3.92 points, 3.29 kills, 2.78 digs and 0.62 blocks per game. As a team, Utah State is hitting .159 on the season as compared to a .181 hitting percentage for its opponents.

"Nevada is a good volleyball team playing at home, so we need to serve hard, control the ball and block well to have success," said USU head coach Grayson DuBose. "We feel like our preseason schedule has prepared us to compete well in the WAC. Last year we went to Nevada and didn't compete at all, so this year we are looking for a better performance."

Nevada is 8-7 on the season and in fifth-place in the WAC with a 5-3 league record following a three-game win at home against Fresno State Thursday night. The Wolf Pack, who is 3-4 at home this year, is led by senior outside hitter Teal Ericson who is hitting .235 and averaging 4.94 kills and 1.06 digs per game. As a team, Nevada is hitting .179 on the season as compared to a .181 hitting percentage for its opponents.

Utah State is 8-16 all-time against Nevada, which includes a 1-10 record in Reno. The two teams split its season series in 2006 with USU winning in Logan in five games and UN winning in Reno in three games.

Following its match at Nevada, USU will return home and host 12th-ranked Hawai'i (14-3, 8-0) on Monday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.