WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE – SEPTEMBER 4, 2023
FOOTBALL
Contact: Doug Hoffman – (435) 797-3714
This Week
Sat., Sept. 9 — IDAHO STATE, 6 p.m. (KJZZ/MWN)
• Utah State football (0-1, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 season this weekend as it faces Idaho State (0-1) in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m., in a game that will be televised regionally on KJZZ, as well as streamed on the Mountain West Network, which is available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch. USU is 18-2 all-time against the Bengals, which includes a 15-1 home record. USU has won six-straight games in the series.
Last Week
L, 14-24 — at No. 25 Iowa
• Senior quarterback Cooper Legas passed for 213 yards and one touchdown as Utah State opened its season with a hard-fought 24-14 loss at No. 25 Iowa last weekend. Senior wide receiver Terrell Vaughn caught a career-high 12 passes for 93 yards. Vaughn’s 16-yard touchdown catch with 1:36 to go in the game pulled the Aggies to within 24-12. USU went for two and got it on a pass from Legas to junior running back Rahsul Faison. Junior wide receiver Jalen Royals added a career-high five receptions for a career-best 39 yards as eight different Aggies caught passes in the game. Faison led the Aggies in rushing with 59 yards on seven carries and ended the game with 81 all-purpose yards as he also caught three passes for 37 yards. Following the touchdown and two-point conversion, Utah State attempted an onside kick, but Iowa recovered it. Legas was 32-of-48 through the air, both of which were career bests, to go along with 17 yards rushing on seven carries. He threw one interception, as well. Graduate senior inside linebacker MJ Tafisi Jr. had his sixth-career double-digit tackle outing as he led the Aggies with 12 stops, including a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss, to go along with his first-career forced fumble. Redshirt junior safety Anthony Switzer and sophomore safety Simeon Harris recorded eight tackles apiece in their respective USU debuts. Sophomore safety Ike Larsen had four tackles, a career-high-tying two pass breakups, and a blocked punt, which extended his school record to four. The Aggies, who had a total of 29 players make their Utah State debuts, gained 329 total yards, including 116 on the ground alone, while limiting the Hawkeyes to just 284 yards of total offense. USU’s defense finished the game with 10.0 tackles for loss, which included 1.0 sacks, to go along with five pass breakups.
SOCCER
Contact: Jaden Johnson – (435) 797-2066
This Week
Thur., Sept. 7 — vs. Arizona State, Tucson, Arizona, 5 p.m. (MT)
Sun., Sept. 10 — at Arizona, 11 a.m. (MT) (Pac-12 Insider)
• Utah State soccer (2-3-1, 0-0-0 MW) travels to the Grand Canyon State this week for a pair of matches against Pac-12 foes. The Aggies first face Arizona State (3-0-3) in a neutral-site contest in Tucson on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. (MT), then take on Arizona (2-1-2) on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 11 a.m. (MT). Sunday’s game will be streamed on Pac-12 Insider, with links to live stats for both matches available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Last Week
W, 2-1 — SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
T, 0-0 — SOUTH DAKOTA
• Utah State went undefeated in a pair of home games against Summit League opponents last week, with a 2-1 win against South Dakota State and a scoreless draw against South Dakota. Against the Jackrabbits, USU capitalized on a three-point performance from junior attacker Bizzy Arevalo to deal SDSU its first loss this season and just its second loss since 2021. Arevalo opened the scoring charge for the Aggies with a goal in the ninth minute on a shot from the middle of the box, assisted by freshman midfielder Summer Diamond and Alysia Butters. She then beat out a defender in the 28th minute to find graduate forward Nicole Hadlock-Hardy for the team’s second goal of the match. SDSU’s lone goal of the contest came in the 44th minute. Against USD, the Aggies posted their first draw of the season in a scoreless tie. USU out-shot the Coyotes 26-1, while controlling a strong majority of the possession in the contest. Utah State generated eight shots on frame and earned 14 corner kicks in the match, while holding South Dakota without a single shot on goal. USU’s 26 shots are tied for 10th-most in program history, and are the most by an Aggie team since recording 32 against Idaho State in 2018, while its 14 corner kicks are the most since taking 15 against Southern Utah in 2002.
VOLLEYBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer – (435) 797-5547
This Week
Thur., Sept. 7 — at Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m. (MT) (ESPN)
Fri., Sept. 8 — vs. TCU, College Station, Texas, 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Sat., Sept. 9 — vs. UNI, College Station, Texas, 10 a.m. (MT)
• Utah State volleyball (5-1, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 season with a three-match tournament at Texas A&M. The Aggies open the tournament taking on host Texas A&M (5-0) on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. (MT), in a game broadcast on ESPN. USU then faces TCU (2-3) on Friday, Sept. 8, at 1:30 p.m. (MT), and UNI (3-3) on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. (MT).
Last Week
W, 3-0 — UTAH
W, 3-1 — WEBER STATE
W, 3-2 — LMU
• Utah State went undefeated at home last week after defeating Utah (3-0), Weber State (3-1) and LMU (3-2). Against the Utes, USU hit .157 (35-18-108), while holding Utah to a .072 (32-25-97) mark. Junior opposite side hitter Adna Mehmedovic led the Aggies with 10 kills, while graduate middle blocker Kennedi Boyd led the team with a .417 (5-0-12) attack percentage. Sophomore setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy had a team-high 20 assists. USU also totaled 13.0 team blocks, including seven solos, in the match. Mehmedovic led the effort with six blocks, while Boyd logged five and senior middle blocker Kelsey Watson added four. Freshman libero Kambree Rodriguez recorded a match-best 10 digs. Against the Wildcats, USU hit .111 (55-36-153), while WSU hit .095 (41-28-137). Mehmedovic had a match-best 15 kills and senior outside hitter Tatum Stall posted her 19th-career double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. Wilton-LaBoy logged a team-high 25 assists, while junior setter Beatriz Rodrigues added 18 helpers. Rodrigues also led the squad with a match-best four service aces. WSU finished with 20.0 total blocks, while USU recorded 17.0 blocks. Boyd led the Aggie effort with eight blocks, while Mehmedovic followed suit with six. Rodriguez finished the night with a match-best 23 digs. Against the Lions, USU hit .260 (63-23-154), while LMU hit .279 (56-18-136). Four Aggies logged double-digit kills in the match as Stall had a match-best 18, while graduate outside Shelby Capllonch had 16, Boyd had 10 and Mehmedovic had 10. Capllonch logged her 40th-career double-double after finishing with a match-high 14 digs. Wilton-LaBoy led USU with 24 assists and a career-high-tying four service aces, while Rodriguez added 23 assists. Defensively, Boyd and Watson each led USU with three blocks. Rodriguez rounded out the Aggie leaders with 11 digs.
CROSS COUNTRY
Contact: Jake Ellis – (435) 797-8584
Next Competition
Mon., Sept. 18 — at NCAA Mountain Regional Preview, 10 a.m.
• Utah State’s cross country teams will hit the road for the first time on Monday, Sept. 18, when they travel to Reno, Nevada, for the 2024 NCAA Mountain Regional Preview. The races will be held at the Washoe County Golf Course.
Last Week
M: 1/2; W: 1/2 — UTAH STATE SAGEBRUSH INVITATIONAL
• Utah State’s cross country programs each opened the season with a victory last weekend at the USU-hosted Sagebrush Invitational. The Aggies swept the team competitions in both the men’s and women’s races. On the men’s side, junior Brennan Benson led the way by placing first overall with a time of 21:25. The Aggies claimed four of the top-five places as freshman Drew Hogan placed third with a time of 21:31 and sophomores Caleb Armstrong and LJ Floyd took fourth and fifth, respectively, with times of 21:32 and 21:34. On the women’s side, freshman Natalie Swain led the Aggies by placing third with a time of 18:33. Sophomore Sarah Ellis placed fifth with a time of 18:43 and freshman Shelby Jensen finished sixth with a time of 18:46.
GOLF
Contact: Wade Denniston – (435) 797-1361
This Week
Sun.-Tues., Sept. 10-12 — at Air Force Invite, 8:30 a.m.
• Utah State’s golf team continues its 2023 fall season Sunday through Tuesday, Sept. 10-12, at the Air Force-hosted Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. The 54-hole tournament will be played on the Eisenhower Blue Course.
Last Week
W, 9-6 — WEBER STATE
• Utah State opened the fall portion of its schedule this past weekend with a 9-6 victory over Weber State in a Ryder Cup-style match play event at the Logan Country Club. Leading 6-2 heading into the final day of competition, the Aggies did what they needed to in order to record the victory over the Wildcats. Junior Esteban Jaramillo’s 2-up victory over Isaac Burger in singles play on Sunday cemented Utah State’s win. Jaramillo found himself 2-down with eight holes to play, but managed to make up the deficit and help the Aggies beat the Wildcats.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall – (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri.-Sun., Sept. 8-10 — at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Invite, All Day
• Utah State’s women’s tennis team begins its 2023 fall season at the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Invitational from Friday through Sunday, Sept. 8-10.
FOOTBALL
Contact: Doug Hoffman – (435) 797-3714
This Week
Sat., Sept. 9 — IDAHO STATE, 6 p.m. (KJZZ/MWN)
• Utah State football (0-1, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 season this weekend as it faces Idaho State (0-1) in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m., in a game that will be televised regionally on KJZZ, as well as streamed on the Mountain West Network, which is available at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch. USU is 18-2 all-time against the Bengals, which includes a 15-1 home record. USU has won six-straight games in the series.
Last Week
L, 14-24 — at No. 25 Iowa
• Senior quarterback Cooper Legas passed for 213 yards and one touchdown as Utah State opened its season with a hard-fought 24-14 loss at No. 25 Iowa last weekend. Senior wide receiver Terrell Vaughn caught a career-high 12 passes for 93 yards. Vaughn’s 16-yard touchdown catch with 1:36 to go in the game pulled the Aggies to within 24-12. USU went for two and got it on a pass from Legas to junior running back Rahsul Faison. Junior wide receiver Jalen Royals added a career-high five receptions for a career-best 39 yards as eight different Aggies caught passes in the game. Faison led the Aggies in rushing with 59 yards on seven carries and ended the game with 81 all-purpose yards as he also caught three passes for 37 yards. Following the touchdown and two-point conversion, Utah State attempted an onside kick, but Iowa recovered it. Legas was 32-of-48 through the air, both of which were career bests, to go along with 17 yards rushing on seven carries. He threw one interception, as well. Graduate senior inside linebacker MJ Tafisi Jr. had his sixth-career double-digit tackle outing as he led the Aggies with 12 stops, including a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss, to go along with his first-career forced fumble. Redshirt junior safety Anthony Switzer and sophomore safety Simeon Harris recorded eight tackles apiece in their respective USU debuts. Sophomore safety Ike Larsen had four tackles, a career-high-tying two pass breakups, and a blocked punt, which extended his school record to four. The Aggies, who had a total of 29 players make their Utah State debuts, gained 329 total yards, including 116 on the ground alone, while limiting the Hawkeyes to just 284 yards of total offense. USU’s defense finished the game with 10.0 tackles for loss, which included 1.0 sacks, to go along with five pass breakups.
SOCCER
Contact: Jaden Johnson – (435) 797-2066
This Week
Thur., Sept. 7 — vs. Arizona State, Tucson, Arizona, 5 p.m. (MT)
Sun., Sept. 10 — at Arizona, 11 a.m. (MT) (Pac-12 Insider)
• Utah State soccer (2-3-1, 0-0-0 MW) travels to the Grand Canyon State this week for a pair of matches against Pac-12 foes. The Aggies first face Arizona State (3-0-3) in a neutral-site contest in Tucson on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. (MT), then take on Arizona (2-1-2) on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 11 a.m. (MT). Sunday’s game will be streamed on Pac-12 Insider, with links to live stats for both matches available at www.utahstateaggies.com.
Last Week
W, 2-1 — SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
T, 0-0 — SOUTH DAKOTA
• Utah State went undefeated in a pair of home games against Summit League opponents last week, with a 2-1 win against South Dakota State and a scoreless draw against South Dakota. Against the Jackrabbits, USU capitalized on a three-point performance from junior attacker Bizzy Arevalo to deal SDSU its first loss this season and just its second loss since 2021. Arevalo opened the scoring charge for the Aggies with a goal in the ninth minute on a shot from the middle of the box, assisted by freshman midfielder Summer Diamond and Alysia Butters. She then beat out a defender in the 28th minute to find graduate forward Nicole Hadlock-Hardy for the team’s second goal of the match. SDSU’s lone goal of the contest came in the 44th minute. Against USD, the Aggies posted their first draw of the season in a scoreless tie. USU out-shot the Coyotes 26-1, while controlling a strong majority of the possession in the contest. Utah State generated eight shots on frame and earned 14 corner kicks in the match, while holding South Dakota without a single shot on goal. USU’s 26 shots are tied for 10th-most in program history, and are the most by an Aggie team since recording 32 against Idaho State in 2018, while its 14 corner kicks are the most since taking 15 against Southern Utah in 2002.
VOLLEYBALL
Contact: Ashley Springer – (435) 797-5547
This Week
Thur., Sept. 7 — at Texas A&M, 6:30 p.m. (MT) (ESPN)
Fri., Sept. 8 — vs. TCU, College Station, Texas, 1:30 p.m. (MT)
Sat., Sept. 9 — vs. UNI, College Station, Texas, 10 a.m. (MT)
• Utah State volleyball (5-1, 0-0 MW) continues its 2023 season with a three-match tournament at Texas A&M. The Aggies open the tournament taking on host Texas A&M (5-0) on Thursday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. (MT), in a game broadcast on ESPN. USU then faces TCU (2-3) on Friday, Sept. 8, at 1:30 p.m. (MT), and UNI (3-3) on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m. (MT).
Last Week
W, 3-0 — UTAH
W, 3-1 — WEBER STATE
W, 3-2 — LMU
• Utah State went undefeated at home last week after defeating Utah (3-0), Weber State (3-1) and LMU (3-2). Against the Utes, USU hit .157 (35-18-108), while holding Utah to a .072 (32-25-97) mark. Junior opposite side hitter Adna Mehmedovic led the Aggies with 10 kills, while graduate middle blocker Kennedi Boyd led the team with a .417 (5-0-12) attack percentage. Sophomore setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy had a team-high 20 assists. USU also totaled 13.0 team blocks, including seven solos, in the match. Mehmedovic led the effort with six blocks, while Boyd logged five and senior middle blocker Kelsey Watson added four. Freshman libero Kambree Rodriguez recorded a match-best 10 digs. Against the Wildcats, USU hit .111 (55-36-153), while WSU hit .095 (41-28-137). Mehmedovic had a match-best 15 kills and senior outside hitter Tatum Stall posted her 19th-career double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. Wilton-LaBoy logged a team-high 25 assists, while junior setter Beatriz Rodrigues added 18 helpers. Rodrigues also led the squad with a match-best four service aces. WSU finished with 20.0 total blocks, while USU recorded 17.0 blocks. Boyd led the Aggie effort with eight blocks, while Mehmedovic followed suit with six. Rodriguez finished the night with a match-best 23 digs. Against the Lions, USU hit .260 (63-23-154), while LMU hit .279 (56-18-136). Four Aggies logged double-digit kills in the match as Stall had a match-best 18, while graduate outside Shelby Capllonch had 16, Boyd had 10 and Mehmedovic had 10. Capllonch logged her 40th-career double-double after finishing with a match-high 14 digs. Wilton-LaBoy led USU with 24 assists and a career-high-tying four service aces, while Rodriguez added 23 assists. Defensively, Boyd and Watson each led USU with three blocks. Rodriguez rounded out the Aggie leaders with 11 digs.
CROSS COUNTRY
Contact: Jake Ellis – (435) 797-8584
Next Competition
Mon., Sept. 18 — at NCAA Mountain Regional Preview, 10 a.m.
• Utah State’s cross country teams will hit the road for the first time on Monday, Sept. 18, when they travel to Reno, Nevada, for the 2024 NCAA Mountain Regional Preview. The races will be held at the Washoe County Golf Course.
Last Week
M: 1/2; W: 1/2 — UTAH STATE SAGEBRUSH INVITATIONAL
• Utah State’s cross country programs each opened the season with a victory last weekend at the USU-hosted Sagebrush Invitational. The Aggies swept the team competitions in both the men’s and women’s races. On the men’s side, junior Brennan Benson led the way by placing first overall with a time of 21:25. The Aggies claimed four of the top-five places as freshman Drew Hogan placed third with a time of 21:31 and sophomores Caleb Armstrong and LJ Floyd took fourth and fifth, respectively, with times of 21:32 and 21:34. On the women’s side, freshman Natalie Swain led the Aggies by placing third with a time of 18:33. Sophomore Sarah Ellis placed fifth with a time of 18:43 and freshman Shelby Jensen finished sixth with a time of 18:46.
GOLF
Contact: Wade Denniston – (435) 797-1361
This Week
Sun.-Tues., Sept. 10-12 — at Air Force Invite, 8:30 a.m.
• Utah State’s golf team continues its 2023 fall season Sunday through Tuesday, Sept. 10-12, at the Air Force-hosted Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. The 54-hole tournament will be played on the Eisenhower Blue Course.
Last Week
W, 9-6 — WEBER STATE
• Utah State opened the fall portion of its schedule this past weekend with a 9-6 victory over Weber State in a Ryder Cup-style match play event at the Logan Country Club. Leading 6-2 heading into the final day of competition, the Aggies did what they needed to in order to record the victory over the Wildcats. Junior Esteban Jaramillo’s 2-up victory over Isaac Burger in singles play on Sunday cemented Utah State’s win. Jaramillo found himself 2-down with eight holes to play, but managed to make up the deficit and help the Aggies beat the Wildcats.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Contact: Adalee Randall – (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri.-Sun., Sept. 8-10 — at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Invite, All Day
• Utah State’s women’s tennis team begins its 2023 fall season at the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Invitational from Friday through Sunday, Sept. 8-10.
