Aug. 25, 2007
SAN DIEGO - In the first-ever volleyball meeting between the teams, San Diego State got the better of the visitors from the east as it defeated Fairfield in three games (30-23, 30-26, 30-28) Saturday morning in Peterson Gym. The match kicked off day two of the Aztec Invitational being hosted this weekend by SDSU.
The victory was the second in its opening two matches for San Diego State while Fairfield remained winless after its first two contests.
For the second straight outing, sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Darnall recorded a double-double with 18 kills and 15 digs. The kill total was one shy of her personal best set on two occasions during her freshman season of 2006. She also added a career-high five blocks.
In addition, junior setter Leah Lathrop notched the fifth double-double of her Aztec career with a 16 assist, 12-dig effort. Middle blocker Lindsey Mahan reached double figures in kills for SDSU with 10 while senior Sydney De Turk recorded seven kills with a .333 attack percentage.
For the Stags, Katie Mann was the lone player to hit double figures in kills with a dozen with teammate Oliver Kelly contributing 13 digs.
San Diego State got off to a quick start in game one as it took an early 7-2 lead and was never threatened. Mahan led all players with seven kills while Darnall chipped in with five. Fairfield was led by four kills from Karlie Urbaniak.
Game two saw the Aztecs take the lead for good at 3-2 and expand it to a seven-point advantage at 24-17, However, SDSU could not shake the Stags, who pulled to within two points at 26-24 before the home side scored four of the final six points to take the game. Darnall led San Diego State with seven kills while De Turk had five. Mann had five for the visitors.
Down two games to none, Fairfield was determined not to go down without a fight, and they came out quickly in the third game, jumping out to an 18-10 lead. The tide turned with the Stags holding a 21-16 lead as the Aztec scored seven consecutive points to turn the deficit into a 23-21 lead. Fairfield fought back to knot the game at 28-28 before kills by Hannah Evans and Aime Cordeiro sealed the game and the match for SDSU.
San Diego State hit .233 over the three games while Fairfield accumulated a .210 attack percentage. The Aztecs were dominant at the net with 13.5 blocks to seven for the visitors.
SDSU will close out tourney action this evening (Saturday, Aug. 25) when it meets the Long Island Blackbirds.