LOGAN, Utah – Utah State volleyball sophomore opposite side hitter
Loryn Helgesen has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Nov. 16. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.
With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
Helgesen, from Kaysville, Utah, led the Aggies during a pair of matches last week at the NCAA Tournament, including a first-round upset of seventh-seeded Tennessee (3-2) and a loss to second-seeded Arizona State (3-1). Against the Volunteers, Helgesen finished with 14 kills on a .308 hitting percentage and tied for the team lead with four blocks while adding seven digs, one ace and one assist. Against the Sun Devils, Helgesen recorded 19 kills on a .429 hitting percentage, both team highs, and added three digs, one block and one assist.
Helgesen finished the season with a .295 hitting percentage, ranking ninth all-time for a single season at USU with at least five attacks per set. Her career hitting percentage of .275 also ranks sixth all-time in program history with at least 1,000 attacks.
Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
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Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
MEN’S BASKETBALL – Junior guard Mason Falslev (Benson, Utah) helped Utah State to a 1-1 record on the road last week with a 74-6` loss at South Florida and a 79-53 win at Charlotte. Against the Bulls, Falslev scored 19 points, to go along with eight rebounds, three steals and two assists, while shooting 7-of-17 from the floor, 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and 2-of-4 from the free throw line. Against the 49ers, he scored 22 points, along with six assists, five rebounds, and four steals, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, 0-of-3 from 3-point range and 8-of-8 at the free throw line. For the week, Falslev averaged 20.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game, while shooting 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the field, 33.3 percent (3-of-9) from 3-point range and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) at the free throw line.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL – Junior guard Aaliyah Gayles (Las Vegas, Nevada) led the Aggies with 16.0 points per game last week in a pair of road losses at LMU (63-58) and San Diego (70-66). Against the Lions, Gayles scored 12 points and added three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Against the Toreros, Gayles scored a team-high 20 points, USU’s first 20-point scorer this season, on 6-of-15 shooting, and led the team with four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.
2025-26 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Sept. 1 – Miles Davis, Football
Sept. 8 – John Miller, Football
Sept. 15 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 22 – Bryson Barnes, Football
Sept. 29 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 6 – Kaylie Kofe, Volleyball
Oct. 13 – Tess Werts, Soccer
Oct. 20 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Oct. 27 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
Nov. 3 – Mara Štiglic, Volleyball
Nov. 10 – Rine Yonaha, Soccer
Nov. 17 – Garry Clark, Men’s Basketball
Nov. 24 – MJ Collins, Men’s Basketball
Dec. 1 – Andrea Simovski, Volleyball
Dec. 8 – Loryn Helgesen, Volleyball
– USU –