SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Green Bay volleyball team opened the 2024 season with a closely contested 3-2 (25-22, 26-28, 25-23, 16-25, 6-15) loss to Utah State.
The first three sets on Friday night's match were back and forth, with GB taking a 2-1 lead, however the Aggies bounced back to take the last two sets and the match, outscoring the Phoenix 40-22 in the final two sets.
The Phoenix offense was paced by Cora Behnke, who finished with 14 kills on the day, and by Freshman Diane Pichelman, who had 10 while hitting .292 in her first collegiate game.
Defensively, had three players reach double figures in digs, including Abby Gardner's 15, 13 from Calli Gentry, and 10 more from Emma Best.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Aggies jumped out to an early 11-6 lead before Green Bay fought back with three kills from Pichelman to bring the score back to 11-10. Pichelman finished the first set with five kills. Green Bay would go on to outscore Utah State 15-11 the rest of the way to take the first set 25-22.
SET 2 | The second set was the closest of the entire match, going back and forth all the way to 26 all before USU took the last two points and tied the match at 1-1. The set featured three lead changes and 14 ties. Neither team led by more than three points along the way.
SET 3 | Utah State used that second set momentum to jump out to a 15-7 lead early in the third set. However, the Phoenix responded, rattling off a 9-1 run featuring three Gentry aces to tie the set up at 16 all. The two teams battled the rest of the stanza, but GB came out on top 25-23.
SET 4 | The fourth set was a dominant one for the Aggies, going ahead 7-1 and never looking back. USU cruised the rest of the way and forced a fifth set with a 25-16 victory.
SET 5 | The Green & White offense never got going in the fifth set, hitting just .087 compared to Utah State's .500 hitting percentage. Utah State took the fifth set 15-6.
GAME NOTES
» Calli Gentry had a match-high four aces and 40 assists in her return to the court for the first time since Sept. 2023.
» Green Bay hit .145 while Utah State hit .251.
» Both teams finished the match with eight aces each.
UP NEXT
The Phoenix will look to bounce back tomorrow against UTEP at 3:30 p.m. CT before closing the weekend with a Sunday matchup with Utah at 1:30 p.m. CT. Both matches will be available to watch on ESPN+.
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