Nov. 6, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Utah got 11 kills apiece from Kathryn Haynie and Karolina Bartkowiak as it defeated San Diego State, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-23), Thursday night in Peterson Gym. The win was the 11th in their last 12 matches for the Utes, who improved to 18-5 overall and 10-2 in the Mountain West Conference. San Diego State saw its record fall to 8-14 on the year (5-7 MWC).
SDSU junior outside hitter Stephanie Darnall led all players in the match with 13 kills, but her total was better than twice that of any of her teammates. She hit .270 and added four digs and a block to complete her stat line for the evening.
Freshman Kyley Sexton had six kills while Lauren Salisbury was held to just five over the three sets along with a block and a pair of digs. As a team, SDSU hit just .184 for the match while Utah finished with a .372 attack percentage.
In addition to Haynie and Bartkowiak's kill totals, the Utes also got nine kills by Lori Baird. Bartkowiak hit .714 on the night with Baird right behind her at .615. At the net, Emillie Toone had four blocks and numerous deflections that thwarted SDSU's attack.
In the opening set, Utah went ahead at 3-2 and maintained that lead the rest of the way. The Aztecs remained close, and were within three points at 13-10 before the visitors ran off four straight points to take command of the contest. Five Utes recorded at least two kills apiece led by Toone, Haynie and Bartkowiak with three each. Darnall led all players with four.
The second set saw the Utes again grab the lead at 3-2 and slowly increase that advantage over the remainder of the set. Down 22-14, SDSU scored the next three points to pull within five, but Utah then got the final three on a pair of kills by Bartkowiak and an Aztec attack error for the eight-point win.
Things looked much the same in the third set as Utah again took the early lead. This time, however, SDSU fought back from an 8-3 deficit to knot the score at 8-8. The Aztecs then notched nine of the ensuing 12 points to take a 17-11 lead as they looked to take control of the contest.
But the Utes came back to within two with four straight points of their own and even though they trailed by four at 20-16, they eventually tied it at 22-all before an SDSU hitting error and a pair of kills by Haynie clinched the set and match.
The Aztecs continue home action on Saturday, Nov. 8, when they face Brigham Young in a match scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. (PST) start in Peterson Gym.