Nov. 10, 2000
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State threw a scare into fifth-ranked Colorado State before succumbing to the Rams in five games in a match played at SDSU's Peterson Gym Friday evening. CSU prevailed in the two-and-a-half hour marathon by game scores of 9-15, 14-16, 15-6, 15-12, 15-9. In doing so, the Rams ensured themselves of at least a share of the Mountain West Conference regular-season title.
San Diego State (16-12, 8-5 MWC) got off to a quick start, winning the first two games behind the hitting of Amy Hallquist, Aspen McPartland and Monet Solberg. However, Colorado State (26-2, 12-1 MWC) stormed back to capture game three, led by the blocking of Angela Knopf and hitting of Courtney Cox.
Game four saw the Aztecs facing game point after falling behind 14-8. A kill by setter Melissa Wright along with three blocking points from Wright and McPartland, brought SDSU to within 14-12, but that's as close as it would get as CSU's Cox finished off the game with a kill.
San Diego State jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead in the decisive fifth game, but was unable to sustain its momentum. Knopf (one kill point, three block points) and Cox (4 kill points) inflicted most of the damage for the Rams who were extended past three games for only the seventh time in 28 matches this season. Cox, along with teammate Kris Swartzendruber, led all players in kills with 19 apiece on the night.
The Aztecs finished with five players in double figures in kills led by Hallquist (14), Solberg (12) and Erin Grady (12). Grady also contributed seven block assists to bring her season total to 152. She needs just 14 more in SDSU's final three matches to set a new school record.
San Diego State closes out its home season with a conference match against Wyoming in Peterson Gym tomorrow evening (Saturday, Nov. 11) at 7:00 pm. The match will be Senior Night as the Aztecs honor three athletes playing their final home match for SDSU: Erin Grady, Amy Hallquist and Monet Solberg.
In addition, SDSU coach Mark Warner will be looking to capture his 100th career win as he nears completion his sixth season at the helm of the Aztec program.
Colorado State 3, San Diego State 2 1 2 3 4 5 FinalCSU 9 14 15 15 15 3SDSU 15 16 6 12 9 2Kills: CSU-82 (Cox-19, Swartzendruber-19), SDSU-70 (Hallquist-14)Assists: CSU-77 (Allison Peckham-68), SDSU-58 (Wright-47)Digs: CSU-71 (Cox-17), SDSU-61 (Hallquist-1)Service Aces: CSU-5 (Soraya Santos-3), SDSU-9 (Jessica Allen-4)Blocks: CSU-34 (Knopf-14), SDSU-30 (Grady-7)Attendance: 217