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Nov. 28, 2001
The San Diego State women's volleyball team makes the short trip north to face No. 1 Long Beach State in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament. The Aztecs play in the second match of the night that is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Long Beach State's The Pyramid. The 49ers are the only team in the nation that boast an undefeated record at 28-0.
This is the first trip back to the bracket for the Aztecs since 1996. SDSU's history includes back-to-back final four apperances in 1981 and '82. Of 12 appearances in the tournament, State has lost in the first round twice. The last win for the Aztecs was a 3-1 victory over Sam Houston State in the '96 first round. The last loss in the first round was to Long Beach State in 1989.
The Aztecs are 16-12 overall and 9-5 against Mountain West opponents. State was swept by UC Santa Barbara in the University of Arizona Tournament and is 134-75 all-time against current Big West schools.
SDSU's 9-3 start this season is its best since 1995 and included a win over cross-town rival USD, something the Aztecs hadn't accomplished since 1996. All indications pointed to another successful year for the Aztecs with a 6-1 record going into conference. But, the top half of the conference held strong and pushed the Aztecs to fourth and 9-5 in the Mountain West.
What to look for...
Against Long Beach State: San Diego State leads the all-time series with Long Beach State, 23-17. The last time the Aztecs and the Niners met was in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 1995, when SDSU walked away with a 3-1 win.
Against UC Santa Barbara/San Diego: The Aztecs have faced both of these teams during the regular season. The Gauchos swept the Aztecs in the University of Arizona Tournament over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Toreros and the Aztecs have seen each other twice this season and split the series, each team winning at home.
I'm Okay, You're Okay
"I'm okay" seem to be the two most common words out of senior Katie Magnuson's mouth. Truth be told, the 6-1 outside hitter from San Diego has a stress fracture and has played on it for most of the season.
Playing through the pain is exactly what she has done. Magnuson has set four new career highs in her senior season, the most impressive being the 19 kills against UNLV on Oct. 5th and the 22 digs vs. SMU at the Tulane Tournament in New Orleans.
On The Wright Path
Melissa Wright has been a consistent aspect of the Aztec team this season. Wright's 1,088 assists in the season and 2,413 career assists have moved her to fourth on the Aztecs all-time assist list. She needs just four more to crack SDSU's single-season assist list for the second straight year.
Wright has started 25 of the 28 matches this season and is currently third in assists in the Mountain West Conference with 11.71 per game and fourth overall with 11.51 per game. Her lone double-double of the season came against Wyoming on Sept. 30, with 48 assists and 10 digs.
Get That Monkey Off My Back!
A collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the stands and on the bench when the Aztecs upset the 14th-ranked Utah Utes, 3-2, in San Diego, Nov. 9. The win marked the first time that the Aztecs had beaten a ranked team this year.
With that victory, the Aztecs are now 1-9 against Top 25 teams this season. The Aztecs lost to the 23rd-ranked Gauchos, 0-3, last week in the Univ. of Arizona Tournament.
Off The Pine
The Aztecs have received a fair amount of help from the bench this year. Junior Rochelle Currier has registered 126 kills, 95 digs, 15 aces and 12 blocks as a non-starter. The junior transfer from Utah State hit a season-high 24 kills in her start against Air Force on Oct. 22.
Gregg's Number One
Sophomore Robyn Gregg has made her presence known at the serving line. Gregg is currently ranked first in the nation. Of the 208 aces by the Aztecs this season, Gregg has accounted for 76 of those. Gregg was the statistical champion with 40 aces in league play, shattering the old MWC record of 26 (Kristen Vance, CSU, 1999).
Fountain of Youth
Katie Magnuson is the only senior of the starting six for the Aztecs. Magnuson is accompanied by juniors Melissa Wright and Nicole Akporiaye and sophomores Zlatina Anguelova, Megan Schauermann and Aspen McPartland.
Junior Rochelle Currier and sophomore Robyn Gregg are in the regular rotation off of the bench.
Foreign Phenom
Sophomore Zlatina Anguelova, an outside hitter that came to San Diego State by way of Sofia, Bulgaria, has made a huge impact during the 2001 season.
Anguelova has totaled 330 kills in 27 matches, along with 32 aces and 76 total blocks. Her 330 kills in league play ranks her sixth with 3.51 kills per game.
Make Mine A Double-Double
Double-doubles mean a lot more to the Aztecs than a greasy burger. Five players have totaled 26 double-doubles this season, 12 of those have come from senior Katie Magnuson.
Sophomores Aspen McPartland and Zlatina Anguelova have totaled six each with junior Melissa Wright notching one. Junior Nicole Akporiaye tallied one triple-double with her performance against cross-town rival USD. Akporiaye totaled 15 kills, 11 digs and 10 blocks. She is one of only five players in the conference to garner a triple-double this year.
We're Baaack
San Diego State is making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since a 1996 showing that ended with a loss to Texas in the second round. It is the 13th appearance for the Aztecs.
Despite the absence, the Aztecs have frequented the post-season affair 12 times prior to the 2001 season, including back-to-back trips to the NCAA Final Four in its first two years ('81, '82).
Overall, the Aztecs hold a 15-12 record in the tournament and haven't lost in the first round since 1989.
SDSU vs. Others In The Bracket
The Aztecs are no stranger to several teams in this year's bracket. State has paired up cross-town rival USD twice this year and split the pair claiming a victory at home, but falling to the Toreros at the Jenny Craig Pavilion in a sweep.
Overall the Aztecs are 3-9 against teams in the bracket in 2001.
8/31 Liberty W, 3-0 9/1 San Diego W, 3-1 9/27 Colorado State L, 0-3 10/3 Pepperdine L, 0-3 10/12 Brigham Young L, 1-3 10/13 Utah L, 0-3 10/17 Hawai'i L, 1-3 10/27 Colorado State L, 0-3 10/31 San Diego L, 0-3 11/9 Utah W, 3-2 11/10 Brigham Young L, 0-3 11/23 UC Santa Barbara L, 0-3
The MWC and the Bracket
The Mountain West Conference is one of just five leagues to send four or more teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Utah earned the Mountain West's automatic berth by defeating 10th-ranked Colorado State in five games to capture the conference tournament, and will host first- and second-round matches in Salt Lake City. CSU was also selected to host first- and second-round matches.
The Big 12 received the most bid with eight teams receiving invitations to the big dance.
Mountain West matches in the first round.
Brigham Young vs. Utah State, Thursday, 6 p.m. (MST) Texas Tech at Utah, Thursday, 8 p.m. (MST) Baylor at Colorado State, Friday, 8 p.m. (MST) San Diego State at Long Beach State Friday, 7:30 p.m. (PST)
Aztec Honors in the NCAA Tournament
Final Four All-Tournament1982 Mary HollandRegional All-Tournament1988 Jackie Mendez1984 Anglea Rock1983 Sue Hegerle Toni Himmer1982 Vicki Cantrell Toni Himmer Karen Schwartz1981 Laurel Brassey (MVP) Sue Hegerle Mary Holland