Weber State University Athletics
Thursday, October 21
Ogden
6:00 p.m.
Weber State University
14-5,9-0Big Sky
3
vs
0
Idaho
3-15,0-9Big Sky
1
2
3
F
Idaho
17
16
11
0
Weber St.
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Freddie Lacey
Wildcats Ace Their Test Against Idaho, Sweep Vandals
10/21/2021 8:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Wildcat Nation recently gave the nickname "#AceState" to their Weber State Wildcats, and that moniker perhaps hasn't ever rang true as it did on Thursday night at Swenson Gym. With 12 service aces in just three sets, Weber State swept the Idaho Vandals by a score of 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-11).
After a bit of a slow start to the first set, the Wildcats used the best weapon in their arsenal, the ace, to get things rolling and take control of the set. With three service aces in the set, one each from Rylin Adams, Baylee Bodily, and Dani Nay, WSU was able to finally get Idaho out of system and finish out the set with an eight-point advantage.
The power of the Wildcat pin hitters proved to be the difference in the second set. Adams, Nay, Emma Mangum, and Riley Weinert combined for 13 kills in the second set as the 'Cats peeled apart a potent Vandal block. With Wildcat passers keeping setter Ashlyn Power in system, it seemed as if the Vandals wouldn't be able to do anything to slow down WSU's hitters. Weber State cruised to a 25-16 second set.
There was no secret as to what carried the 'Cats to control the third set. Seven service aces in the set, three from Nay, the national leader in aces, two from the Big Sky Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, Makayla Sorensen, and one each from Power and Bodily, and the reasoning behind the nickname "#AceState" had never been more apparent. A 25-11 third set gave the Wildcats another win.
With Thursday's result, the historic run for Weber State Volleyball marches on. The victory improves Weber State to 14-5 (9-0) on the season, the 'Cats have won nine matches in a row, 19 sets in a row, 22 matches in a row at Swenson Gym, and remain the only unbeaten team in Big Sky Conference play.
Weber State was led offensively by Nay, the Big Sky Conference's Offensive Player of the Week. The superstar had 11 kills on a .345 attack percentage and finished the night with five service aces. Adams hit a phenomenal .261 and collected nine kills. Power, as always, excelled at distributing the ball and had 28 more assists to add to her terrific career total. Mangum improved her wonderful stretch of play and had seven kills on a .400 hitting percentage.
"She's been playing great for the last three weeks," a beaming Jeremiah Larsen said of Mangum's torrid run. "I'm super proud of the progress she's made blocking and hitting."
When speaking of his offense and the way they attacked a capable Vandal block, Larsen said, "We talked about attacking their block in the right manner and being able to handle their serve. I thought we did those at an elite level tonight."
"Elite," certainly seems to be the best way to describe this superlative-laden run that the Wildcats have been on during Larsen's tenure at Weber State.
With Alumni Night approaching on Saturday, October 23rd at 2:00 PM at Swenson Gym, Larsen, one who has never shied from heaping praise on his players that have paved the way for his current team's success, stated, "We're excited about seeing all the kids that have built the foundation for us to be successful."
All Wildcat Volleyball alumni will be given free admission to Saturday's match against Eastern Washington. Alumni will be given a free shirt, there will be refreshments, and all who are present will have the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful career of Megan Free, a middle blocker who was one of the first to commit to Larsen and his program, and helped serve as a catalyst for this wonderful stretch of volleyball that's been played in Ogden over the last few seasons.
Tickets to the match can be purchased online or by calling Weber State's ticket office at 801-626-8500. For those who can't make it to Swenson Gym, you can watch the match on ESPN+.
After a bit of a slow start to the first set, the Wildcats used the best weapon in their arsenal, the ace, to get things rolling and take control of the set. With three service aces in the set, one each from Rylin Adams, Baylee Bodily, and Dani Nay, WSU was able to finally get Idaho out of system and finish out the set with an eight-point advantage.
The power of the Wildcat pin hitters proved to be the difference in the second set. Adams, Nay, Emma Mangum, and Riley Weinert combined for 13 kills in the second set as the 'Cats peeled apart a potent Vandal block. With Wildcat passers keeping setter Ashlyn Power in system, it seemed as if the Vandals wouldn't be able to do anything to slow down WSU's hitters. Weber State cruised to a 25-16 second set.
There was no secret as to what carried the 'Cats to control the third set. Seven service aces in the set, three from Nay, the national leader in aces, two from the Big Sky Conference's Defensive Player of the Week, Makayla Sorensen, and one each from Power and Bodily, and the reasoning behind the nickname "#AceState" had never been more apparent. A 25-11 third set gave the Wildcats another win.
With Thursday's result, the historic run for Weber State Volleyball marches on. The victory improves Weber State to 14-5 (9-0) on the season, the 'Cats have won nine matches in a row, 19 sets in a row, 22 matches in a row at Swenson Gym, and remain the only unbeaten team in Big Sky Conference play.
Weber State was led offensively by Nay, the Big Sky Conference's Offensive Player of the Week. The superstar had 11 kills on a .345 attack percentage and finished the night with five service aces. Adams hit a phenomenal .261 and collected nine kills. Power, as always, excelled at distributing the ball and had 28 more assists to add to her terrific career total. Mangum improved her wonderful stretch of play and had seven kills on a .400 hitting percentage.
"She's been playing great for the last three weeks," a beaming Jeremiah Larsen said of Mangum's torrid run. "I'm super proud of the progress she's made blocking and hitting."
When speaking of his offense and the way they attacked a capable Vandal block, Larsen said, "We talked about attacking their block in the right manner and being able to handle their serve. I thought we did those at an elite level tonight."
"Elite," certainly seems to be the best way to describe this superlative-laden run that the Wildcats have been on during Larsen's tenure at Weber State.
With Alumni Night approaching on Saturday, October 23rd at 2:00 PM at Swenson Gym, Larsen, one who has never shied from heaping praise on his players that have paved the way for his current team's success, stated, "We're excited about seeing all the kids that have built the foundation for us to be successful."
All Wildcat Volleyball alumni will be given free admission to Saturday's match against Eastern Washington. Alumni will be given a free shirt, there will be refreshments, and all who are present will have the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful career of Megan Free, a middle blocker who was one of the first to commit to Larsen and his program, and helped serve as a catalyst for this wonderful stretch of volleyball that's been played in Ogden over the last few seasons.
Tickets to the match can be purchased online or by calling Weber State's ticket office at 801-626-8500. For those who can't make it to Swenson Gym, you can watch the match on ESPN+.
Team Stats
UI
Weber
Kills
27
37
Errors
18
8
Attempts
92
91
Hitting %
.098
.319
Points
30
55
Assists
25
32
Aces
0
12
Blocks
3
6
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
5
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
3
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH/L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOPP
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's VolleyballWeber State vs. Portland State
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Weber State Volleyball In-Depth | Episode 17: Jayda Tupea
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Weber State vs. Idaho State | 10-3-25
Friday, October 03