Statesman February 6, 2018 Issue

Week of February 6, 2018 www.usustatesman.com (435) 797-1742 TSC Room 118 Free single copy

STUDENT LIFE | Multicultural

SPORTS | Men’s Volleyball Club

Meet Theta Nu Xi and Psi Sigma Phi, the diversity-themed Greek organizations at Utah State.

Aggies prepare for conference tournament with win over No. 10 Utah Valley.

SPORTS | Not Quite Enough Gymnastics came up just short at home to No. 16 Boise State

see PAGE 3

see PAGE 6

see PAGE 5

‘Jon Huntsman believed in us’ Athletics

student fee increased

By Carter Moore NEWS STAFF WRITER

Jon M. Huntsman Sr., the largest single source of donation to Utah State University and a champion for cancer research, religious unity, and charitable giving, has died from complications of prostate cancer today.

The Huntsman family released a statement saying he “passed away peacefully” around 2 p.m., “surrounded by a loving family, following long-term health challenges.”

Huntsman strongly advocated for USU throughout his life, donating a total of $56 million to the business program that bears his name.

“Jon Huntsman believed in us,” said Douglas Anderson, Dean of the Huntsman School, in a statement today. “He saw in Utah State University an institution that he admired and that he thought he could help aspire to a higher level of performance.”

Huntsman’s joint gift with the Koch Foundation of $50 million in 2017 went to support the Huntsman Scholars program, aimed at helping high achieving students financially and with career and university goals.

According to an email sent out by Blake C. Nemelka, an assistant director for the Huntsman Scholar program, members of the program are encouraged to wear their Huntsman Scholar polos on Monday in honor of the man who helped found the program.

“I’ve been observing Utah State University for the past 50 years. This is the finest college in America,” Huntsman once said. “It’s an honor to be associated with this outstanding school.”

By Alyssa Roberts NEWS SENIOR WRITER

THE FEE A proposed $8* athletics fee increase was lowered to a $1.94 increase at the Utah State University Fee Board’s final meeting Wednesday. After much discussion, the lowered fee was approved by the board.

FILE PHOTO BY Johnny Morris In this March 16, 2016 file photo, (left to right) former Utah State president Stan Albrecht, Jon Huntsman Sr., Utah governor Gary Herbert, Karen Huntsman, and business college dean Doug Anderson smile during the ribbon cutting ceremony of Huntsman Hall on the USU campus.

Anderson said Huntsman was a partner with USU every step of the way.

“He was totally aligned with our vision, but he constantly encouraged us to reach higher, dig deeper and accomplish more,” Anderson said.

USU President Noelle Cockett released a statement saying, “We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the Huntsman family at the passing of our dear friend, Jon Huntsman. Mr. Huntsman has been a tremendous benefactor to our campus community, evidenced of course by his impact on the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business.”

Cockett added that it would be short-sighted to honor Huntsman only for his philanthropic causes.

“Mr. Huntsman was a model of ethical leadership himself, and his love for our students was clear and ingrained deeply in his heart,” Cockett said. “His generosity was personal, and his legacy will live long in our own hearts.”

Anderson was not short on praise for Huntsman’s legacy and influence in the business program.

“We are a much better institution because of his generosity, friendship and love,” Anderson said. “If I were dean for 100 years, I doubt I could find another partner of such surpassing gifts. I will miss him greatly.”

— carter.moore@aggiemail.usu.edu @carterthegrreat

All abroad!

The office changed their marketing strategies

By Bobbee Russell NEWS STAFF WRITER

by creating a new application program, which

There’s a whole world to explore outside of

for programs. They also appointed Global En-

Logan, but very few Utah State University stu-

dents are taking advantage of the opportunity.

According to President Noelle Cockett, only

0.2 percent of students participate in study abroad programs.

Cockett, in her November State of the Uni-

versity address, said that there is a push for “high-impact

practices,”

abroad experiences.

including

study

The USU Office of Global Engagement is

aware of the low number and have been making changes.

The number of students who studied abroad

last spring have doubled this spring, said study abroad advisor assistant Emma Wright.

made it easier for students to find and apply

THE BACKGROUND The compromise came after hours of debate on two different proposals made by the university’s athletics department. An original proposal presented by athletics director John Hartwell said the $297,000 generated by an $8 increase would be used to purchase technology to promote attendance and allow e-ticketing for games and other university-sponsored events.

Hartwell’s proposal allocated $72,000 of the $297,000 to be used for “athletics operations uses,” a general fund he said would cover rising costs of things like travel and scholarships.

The proposal was met with skepticism from some board members, who said it was too similar to a proposal the board rejected the previous year. At the recommendation of the executive committee, which is comprised of faculty and staff, athletics came back Jan. 25 with an amended presentation. see “Athletics Fee” PAGE 2

Global Engagement office seeks to increase study abroad participation

study abroad specific scholarships from the Gilman Scholarship and the Fund for Education Abroad.

“Getting scholarships has been incredibly im-

Christensen is one of seven Gilman Scholar-

ship winners this past year, the most USU has seen since 2012.

Galvydis said study abroad programs can be

gagement Ambassadors to share their experi-

portant because I wouldn't have been able to

paid for with USU scholarships, financial aid

studying abroad take over the USU Snapchat

surprised to receive the scholarships that I did

Galvydis said sometimes airfare is the only

ences, and had students who are currently story.

study abroad without them. Honestly, I was

and Pell Grants.

earn,” Christensen wrote in an email.

out-of-pocket cost.

director, said the best recruitment is by word

ments for his theatre major and is solely work-

amazing,” Galvydis said.

“I have a long convoluted story — everyone

guage while abroad in Japan. He is able to

for one semester, the summer or a year.

Monika Galvydis, the study abroad program

of mouth.

does. Once you study abroad, it goes into ev-

ery aspect of your life. It changes it,” Galvydis

Christensen completed all of the require-

ing on his knowledge of the Japanese lanincorporate theater into his Japanese studies.

“In one of my favorite classes this past semes-

said.

ter, we wrote and performed 10-minute scenes

ships students can receive if they are interest-

municate with one another in Japanese be-

Galvydis said there are numerous scholar-

entirely in Japanese. We even needed to com-

“If that’s the only cost students have, that’s

Galvydis said there are programs available

Janelle Abram, an Office of Global Engage-

ment ambassador, studied in southern Germa-

ny for six weeks last summer. She earned credit for her German teaching degree.

Abram liked the program because it gave her

cause several of my group members couldn't C LCALRC AKLRSA KBRS UK BRS UGBRU GBRRGBERSB ELR SAL EWA SL WSATWSOTNO SETNLOEEN LI G EL IHGE H I speak English,” he wrote.

ed in a study abroad program.

Colter Christensen received over $13,000 in

see “Study Abroad” PAGE 2

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PAGE 2

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2018

“Athletics Fee” FROM PAGE 1 Though it’s not necessarily common for organizations to present twice, USU’s vice president for student services James Morales, who serves as an administration representative on the fee board, said “it does happen occasionally.” The music department was given the opportunity to present an amended proposal when it asked for a fee increase in 2016, Morales said in an email.

The amended presentation, given by athletics deputy director and vice president of external affairs Coleman Barnes, allocated the entirety of the $297,000 ask to general uses. Barnes said the money would help athletics keep up with inflationary costs of scholarships, travel, game guarantees and expenses, recruiting, equipment, marketing and medical expenses.

THE DEBATE This was a problem for some board members, who said it didn’t make sense that a $72,000 need in the original proposal would become a $297,000 need in the second.

Since the $72,000 budgeted for general expenses in Hartwell’s proposal amounted to a $1.94 fee increase, the board should approve nothing more than that amount, argued College of Humanities and Social Sciences Senator Grant Bess.

“They only asked for $1.94 to be put toward general expenses,” Bess said, “everything else was to improve the student experience and that’s what we rejected.”

College of Humanities and Social Sciences Senator Grant Bess discusses the proposed fee at the fee board meeting.

Bridget Brown, the USU Student Association’s student advocate vice president, said she had initially been in favor of the increase, but Barnes’ presentation and conversations with students had led her to agree with Bess.

Specifically, Brown said she was concerned that, when asked what athletics would do if the fee board voted not to increase the fee, Barnes said that “at the end of the day, we’ll move on.”

“I don’t think this fee increase is an absolute need and that is not the impression I got from either presentation,” Brown said. “Perhaps $2 or $3 could go a long way, but I don’t agree with an $8 increase.”

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Senator Heather Lieber said the board should “be careful of thinking about $8 as some devastating financial hardship.”

“I totally understand that compounded, it’s a big amount but we also need to be careful on

PHOTO BY Sydney Oliver The fee board was unwilling to approve the full $8 increase requested by athletics, but approved a portion of the fee that will result in approximately $72,000 per year for the athletics department.

the other side, of thinking it’s some giant burden to students,” Lieber said. “To me, it doesn’t feel too dramatic, I guess.”

Lieber then motioned the board vote to pass the $8 increase, which the board rejected.

College of Science Senator Travis Dowdle argued the fee should not be increased at all.

“I think the students of Utah State are capable of knowing how much $8 feels to them,” Dowdle said. “I think students are opposed to the idea of fees in general because they get hit from so many angles and I think it’s frustrating to just see everything go up.”

Dowdle said he thought the board should keep in mind the reason students choose to attend USU in the first place.

“Utah State is a very attractive institution because of how affordable it is for what you get,” Dowdle said. “I don’t think any student came to Utah State because of our athletic program, but I do think they came because it’s an affordable and great institution.”

College of Engineering Senator Erik Olson also argued in favor of a $0 increase.

“Students don’t want this,” Olson said. “To say anything else is a lie and I think it does a disservice to the majority, the average student who comes to Utah State.”

Both Olson and Dowdle presented data from

surveys conducted among students in the colleges of science, engineering, education, arts and natural resources. Results from those surveys showed the majority of the student body was opposed to the athletics fee increase, they said.

Fee board members continue to discuss the proposed athletics fee.

“If we vote in favor of even a dollar I think we are totally ignoring our base,” Olson said. “I think that’s a disservice to them and a disservice to our university.”

Other members expressed concern that the surveys might have been biased or used toosmall sample sizes.

“We need to be very careful with how we’re basing decisions for the entire student body off of small data sets and possibly biased data sets,” said USUSA president Michael Scott Peters.

Olson pointed out that the results showed students were in favor of the computer fee increase, so it wasn’t necessarily a matter of students being opposed to fee increases in general.

Peters said board members should give the athletics department more credit for its willingness to amend its proposals and provide more information, including a separate Q&A session board members were able to attend on Monday.

“Athletics has done exactly what we’ve asked for,” Peters said. “They’ve catered to our needs.

Peters also said the board should remember the fee increase was “money coming from students specifically to benefit other students.”

In a motion to vote on a $6 fee increase, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business Senator Cody Davis pointed out that “all these proposed fee increases benefit students.” Even though some, like him, might not utilize Aggie Blue Bikes, the Aggie Shuttle or the Health and Wellness Center, fees for those services still benefited the student body, he argued.

Davis’s motion to vote on a $6 increase passed, but when it came down to a vote, that amount was rejected, with Bess arguing the board needed to “separate whether athletics has merit at this university — which I would argue it does — from them needing this increase.”

In response, Olson argued the fees Davis mentioned were all different because “they help students be students.” Those fees allowed students to attend USU and provided services

“Study Abroad” FROM PAGE 1 an amazing experience, and it put her ahead in credits.

“It helps because you are getting USU credit

and international experience, and something else to put on your resume besides four years at USU,” Abram said.

Christensen’s year long study abroad experi-

ence has delayed his graduation date.

“I don't mind because the experiences are go-

ing to help me with my career after graduat-

ing. My goals attending USU are far beyond

students might not be able to get on their own, he said.

THE ATHLETICS FEE HISTORY Bess pointed out that students had, indirectly, given more money to athletics by virtue of a restructuring of fee distribution implemented in 2016.

That restructuring put fees for the Logan campus’ online students in the same pot as Logan main campus students, Whitney Pugh, the university’s executive director of budget and planning, said in an email. Previously, Logan online student credits (and fees) had been reported in the same category as regional campuses.

A hypothetical budget distribution provided by the athletics department showed this change increased the amount athletics received from student fees from about $4.3 million in 2015 to about $5.1 million in 2016, without a direct increase to the athletics student fee.

Sydney Oliver | The Utah Statesman A member of the fee board reviews the hypothetical budget distribution.

With this in mind, Brown moved to vote on a $2 increase. Her motion failed, and was followed by a motion for a $0 increase from Dowdle, which also failed. Another motion was made for a $1.94 increase, which also failed.

THE DECISION The lack of agreement was met with frustration and puzzlement.

“I don’t really know where we’re wanting to go because I feel like we’re repeating arguments,” Lieber said.

It was odd for the board to focus on whether the increase was a need, Lieber said, because she didn’t think the board would ever deem an athletics increase a need.

With that, Lieber moved again to vote on a $1.94 increase. This motion passed.

In a 15-7-1 decision, the board approved a $1.94 increase to the athletics student fee.

More information about student fees and fee distributions is available on the USU website.

— ac.roberts95@gmail.com @alyssarbrts

*Fee estimates are based on costs for a student taking 12-18 credits.

simply receiving a diploma. I have been mak-

ing valuable connections while abroad that

will hopefully help me to jump start my career,” Christensen stated via email.

Galvydis said that even though numbers are

starting to increase, they will keep pushing for more USU students to go abroad.

“We still want more to go,” Galvydis said.

“0.2 percent isn’t enough. We want as many students as we can get.”

— b96russell@gmail.com @bjr24601

PAGE 3

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2018

STUDENT LIFE

Celebrating diversity through Greek life

there that they can relate to in many different ways, and that they don’t need to be afraid to be themselves to fit in.”

Psi Sigma Phi works relatively closely with

several different diversity groups on campus.

Their members can often be found volunteering during different events put on by these diversity groups.

Psi Sigma Phi’s national philanthropy is the

Kidney and Urology foundation, and they

often donate their time and services to local communities in need.

Both Psi Sigma Phi and Theta Nu Xi take

part in an intake process that focuses on time commitment and dedication, which is a dif-

ferent recruitment process than most fraternities and sororities.

Sanchez said this makes them unique be-

cause instead of taking bids or doing rituals

at the end of Rush Week, they are assigned a Big that gives them advice and guides them through the recruitment process. They also

perform salutes, stepping chants and marches.

“It’s our way to show and pay respect to oth-

PHOTO COURTESY OF Psi Sigma Phi Psi Sigma Phi and Theta Nu Xi are the multicultural Greek organizations at USU. This year, they have opened their annual Step Show competition to all Greek organizations at USU, U of U, WSU and ISU.

routines, competing against each other for

By Kortni Wells STUDENT LIFE SENIOR WRITER

we are present and we’re definitely doing a

the title of “Best Steppers.”

lot of work within ourselves and within our

But the competition isn’t just for USU frater-

Theta Nu Xi (pronounced k-a-i) is just one of

community,” Hernandez said. “We’re very

nity and sorority members. The competition is

friendly and love to connect with other orga-

the many multicultural organizations on USU’s

open to student organizations and clubs as well.

Theta Nu Xi’s goal is to group provide a place

extended their invitation to all of the fraternities

for men at Utah State. Both Theta Nu Xi and

ty of Utah and Weber State University.

tions which sets them apart, said Edmundo

campus and USU’s only diversity sorority.

This year, Psi Sigma Phi and Theta Nu Xi have

for women who think alike. The sorority’s val-

and sororities at Idaho State University, Universi-

ues are the pillars of sisterhood, scholarship, leadership service and multiculturalism.

nizations and groups of people.”

Psi Sigma Phi is the multicultural fraternity

Psi Sigma Phi are non-traditional organiza-

Dianna Palma currently serves as the Step

Sanchez, the President of Psi Sigma Phi.

Show chair for Theta Nu Xi. She enjoys being

Throughout the school year members of

“I believe that we strive to make a connec-

Theta Nu Xi focus on putting on events,

able to put the event together.

tion with people that are different in their

porting other organizations and increasing

organizations at this university and others,

them know that there is an organization out

volunteering throughout the community, sup-

“I like being able to reach out to multiple

their memberships.

and getting to know them,” Palma said. “Not

ident of Theta Nu Xi at Utah State and said

for the given year, but we build relationships

their sorority apart from other sororities and

long run.”

Karina Hernandez currently serves as pres-

the multicultural component is what sets fraternities on campus.

own way,” Sanchez said. “We want to let

er chapters within our organizations as well as other organizations,” Sanchez said.

For Sanchez, Psi Sigma Phi is more than just

a family, it’s a livelihood.

“If you’re looking to join an organization

that you will consider a family, then look

further,” Sanchez said. “We may be small, but that’s a good thing. It’s so crazy how close

you can get to someone you don’t know in such a short time being together.”

For more information on Theta Nu Xi, an in-

formal meeting will be held Wednesday Feb. 7 at 4:30 p.m. in Huntsman Hall 380.

—kortni.marie.wells@aggiemail.usu.edu @kortniwells

only do we get to know that organization

with organizations from all around in the

Each year has a different theme attached

and Palma said it’s fascinating to see how

“We integrate our identities, our cultural

heritage and our backgrounds with our soror-

each organization presents themselves.

how we run our organization.”

spired by the movie “The Greatest Showman.”

Xi isn’t just a place for women of color. It is

itself, I love seeing the creativity all of the orga-

ity,” Hernandez said. “It plays a huge part in As a multicultural organization, Theta Nu

This year’s theme is all about the circus, in“Aside from the evening being exciting in

heavily involved with social justice and equal-

nizations pull together each year,” Palma said.

A major piece of multiculturalism is the idea

April 6 at 7 p.m. in the Taggart Student Cen-

ity for everyone.

The step show for this year will be held

of intersectional identity, Hernandez said. The-

ter Ballroom.

different parts of their lives that help them

year ago entitled “Girl Up.” The organization

ta Nu Xi women believe that there are many

Theta Nu Xi adopted a new philanthropy a

navigate and move throughout the world.

empowers women across the globe to gain an

can scare people if they don’t understand

what they want to do with their futures.

dez said. “Theta Nu Xi helps you bring those

working, and other resources to help women

your best self with those different parts of

discouraged from pursuing because of social

“I think sometimes the ‘multicultural’ word

what we mean by multiculturalism,” Hernan-

education while also helping them determine “We provide educational resources, net-

components together and helps you discover

attain goals that they would otherwise be

your identity.”

constructs and societal norms,” Hernandez said.

Nu Xi and Psi Sigma Phi is called Step Show.

in learning more about the organization of

One of the biggest events hosted by Theta

Step Show is a place for all of the fraternities and sororities to come together and perform

Hernandez encourages anyone interested

Theta Nu Xi to come and do so.

“We want people to know that we are here,

PHOTO COURTESY OF Theta Nu Xi Throughout the school year, Theta Nu Xi focuses on hosting events, volunteering in the community and supporting other organizations.

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WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2018

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PAGE 5

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2018

SPORTS

McEwen named MW Player

of the Week

By Lauren Lomeli SPORTS STAFF WRITER

USU sophomore guard Koby McEwen has

been named Mountain West Player of the Week for the second time this season, after earning the title previously in January.

McEwen led the Aggies in an 89-80 win

against New Mexico, and finished the game

with 31 points and 13 rebounds, both of which were single-game career highs for him.

This was also the first 30-plus point performance by an Aggie since the 2015-2016 season.

To add to an already stellar night, McEwen

PHOTO BY Tim Carpenter Freshman Leighton Varnadore performs an uneven bars routine at Friday’s meet. The USU’s next meet is Friday at a tri-team meet against UC Davis and Sacramento State.

Aggies can’t handle no. 16 Boise State Freshmen lead the way for USU as the Aggies post second-best score of season

By Lauren Lomeli SPORTS STAFF WRITER

landings and that kind of stuff. I just wanted to

The USU gymnastics team hosted No. 16 Boi-

really paid off.”

se State Friday night at The Spectrum. The Ag-

get out there and have fun today, and I think it

by placing third on the vault with a score of

Utah State junior Madison Ward tied for sec-

men Faith Leary and Mikaela Meyer made big

gies posted their second best score of the sea-

ond in the floor event with a 9.900, which

196.625-195.150.

in her career.

son

while

falling

to

the

Broncos

“We had a solid meet,” said Aggie head coach

marks the seventh time she has scored a 9.900 As she was set to take the floor immediately

Amy Smith. “We made improvements tonight,

following DeHarde’s performance, Ward said a

complain about the performance.”

team.

and it was pretty solid across the board. Can’t The night for Utah State was highlighted by

bit of a playful competition arose within the

“Vault was good,” Smith said. “It’s those little

landings that we need to work on, but I feel

like we’re getting there and it’s still the beginning of season.”

On Friday the team will be on the road at-

mento State, who USU defeated this season in

fulness. It pushes me and I know it pushes the rest of the team as well.”

Freshman Faith Leary tied for fourth in the

history.

floor routine as well, with a 9.850 to add to the

“Last week at previous meets I focused on

a new season high.

“First of all, I just had fun,” DeHarde said.

and 9.725 respectively.

think that’s fun, that competitive, just fun play-

exercise, DeHarde became the first Aggie gym-

the score for her routine ranks 10th in program

contributions as well, posting scores of 9.750

tending a tri-meet hosted by UC Davis in Davis,

‘Oh I can’t let her beat me!’” Ward said. “But I

nast to do so since Megan Tschida in 2008, and

9.850, a new career-high for the junior. Fresh-

“I told (assistant coach) Whitnee (Johnson),

the performance of freshman Autumn De-

Harde. Posting a score of 9.925 on the floor

Ward added to an already solid performance

Aggies’ combined score of 49.075 in the event,

Calif. Also attending the meet will be Sacra-

Logan. The next home meet for the Aggies will be March 2 when they host in-state rival BYU. @lomeli_lauren

played the entire 40 minutes and led the Ag-

gies with three steals and six assists. The

sophomore guard ended the game shooting 75.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, as well as 66.7 percent from the floor, and 100.0 percent from the free throw line.

McEwen is the only Utah State player to re-

cieve conference player of the week honors

this season. Last year no Aggie player recieved the award.

Since the beginning of Mountian West Con-

ference play McEwen ranks seventh in the

conference with 17.9 points per game, seventh with 3.5 assists per game, eigth with 8.3

rebounds per game, and third with 36.8 minutes per game.

In addition to the Mountain West award,

McEwen was also dubbed the America First

Credit Union USU Student Athlete of the week.

The Aggies are on the road this week, as

they travel to Wyoming to take on the Cow-

boys on Wednesday. The team will return back to Logan to host Boise State at The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday at 7 p.m.

PHOTO BY Tim Carpenter (Left) Freshman Faith Leary performs a routine in the floor exercise. The Aggie scored a season-high team score of 49.075 on the floor. (Right) Sophomore Elle Golison on the balance beam.

PAGE 6

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2018

PHOTO COURTESY OF USU Men’s Volleyball After getting swept by UVU in the past two meetings, the USU men’s volleyball team defeated the Wolverines in four sets on Saturday

Men’s volleyball takes down No. 10 UVU

Aggies prepare for conference championship tournament with victory over in-state rival Utah Valley

By Jason Walker SPORTS EDITOR

In a stunning victory, the USU men’s volleyball team took down No. 10 Utah Valley 3-1 on Saturday in a big win, not only for the team, but for the program as a whole.

“It was huge,” said head coach Treva McUne of the win. “Just a big win like that is a huge confidence booster for the program.”

It was a daunting task, beating a top-10 team.

Added to that pressure was the fact that in two previous games against the Wolverines, the Aggies lost in straight sets. But a 26-24 first set win for Utah State changed things in the team huddle according to outside hitter Matt Rudder.

“We were so excited,” Rudder said. “I know

this season we’ve never taken a set from them so that was a first time for us. We were really excited, and we rolled with the momentum into the rest of the game.”

Though the Aggies dropped the second set 21-25, the team didn’t falter and won the next two sets in convincing fashion 25-18 and 25-20.

According to McUne, the team did well in nearly every facet of the game.

“Overall, they did great,” McUne said. “Our serving and passing was amazing, it kept us consistent. We were able to establish our middles and open up our pin hitters a little bit more. Our blockers actually did amazing, they actually shut down their hitters.”

While nearly all aspects of USU’s game were on point, passing was something

“It was huge.”

- Treva McUne, Utah State head coach

McUne, Rudder and setter Christian McKinnon all said was great in repelling UVU’s attack.

“Our passers did a really really good job,” McKinnon said. “UVU has some really really good servers and that’s one of their big strengths, and our passers did an awesome job just keeping the ball high and off the net.”

Playing in the Estes Center was an experience that won’t be lost on the club. It was the team’s first ever competitive match within this building’s walls. McKinnon called it an “awesome facility” and expressed his gratitude to the athletics department for letting them use it.

In addition to playing in a higher-end facility, there were far more fans than usual.

Normally, there are maybe a couple of fans at the men’s volleyball games. On Saturday, there were a couple hundred armed with

signs and cheering the team on.

“It was just awesome to get so many people here,” McKinnon said. “The HURD did an awesome job advertising it and we’re super amped that we got to play in front of people.”

There are several challenges ahead for the team as they begin to prepare for nationals, but Saturday’s victory was, according to McUne, “something that we can build off of and grow.” Rudder added that the team can use this victory in a few weeks in the conference championship tournament.

“It’s really good for us,” Rudder said. “We have conference championships in a couple weeks so it’s really exciting for us to have that momentum and roll forward with this. @thejwalk67

20172018

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WEEK OF FEBRUARY 6, 2018

FEBRUARY 6 - FEBRUARY 12

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USU Club Meditation Cache Snowflake Classic Pickleball Mini 12:30pm USU ARC Tournament 9:00am, $10.00 USU HPER

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Mardi Gras 9:00pm, $5.00 USU TSC