Sept. 5, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO - San Diego State concluded play at the USF Asics/Coca-Cola Challenge with a four-set victory (25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21) over Cal State Northridge Saturday evening in San Francisco. With the win the Aztecs improved to 4-2 on the season and captured the runner-up spot in a tournament for the second consecutive weekend. CSUN, meanwhile, saw its record fall to 2-4.
Rice, which went 3-0 over the weekend including a five-set win over the Aztecs, was the tourney champion while host San Francisco placed third with a 1-2 mark. CSU Northridge ended with a record of 0-3.
On Saturday, SDSU had three players finish the match vs. CSUN in double figures in kills led by 13 from middle blocker Lauren Salisbury. She also recorded five blocks and a pair of digs to round out her stat line.
Freshman Andrea Hannasch and sophomore Paije Pearson contributed 11 kills apiece. Hannasch added three service aces, seven blocks and a pair of digs while Pearson chipped in with five blocks.
For the fifth time in six matches in 2009, sophomore setter Lauren Van Orden recorded 40 or more assists as she finished with 40 against the Matadors. In addition, Kyley Sexton contributed nine kills along with a career-high 16 digs.
For their efforts over the three matches this weekend, both Hannasch and Salisbury were named to the all-tournament team. Hannasch averaged 2.69 kills per set, a .379 attack percentage and 1.38 blocks per set in SDSU's three contests while Salisbury hit .394 with averages of 2.62 kills and 1.38 blocks.
In the opening set of Saturday's contest, Cal State Northridge maintained a slim advantage through the early portion of the contest as it held a two-point lead at 11-9. At that point, however, San Diego State an off five straight points on a pair of Hannasch kills and a trio of Matador miscues. From there CSUN could get no closer than two as SDSU built on its run for the eight-point victory.
The Aztecs looked to take control of the match in set two, running out to a quick 10-1 lead. Northridge, however, had other ideas as it slowly worked its way back into the contest. The Aztecs still looked to be in charge as they held a 22-17 advantage, but the Matadors won six of the next seven points to make it 23-all before a service ace and kill evened the match at one set apiece.
After the break, the third set saw the teams trade points until SDSU grabbed three straight at 12-12 and was not caught the rest of the way. The Aztecs' final four points came on a pair of kills by right side hitter Kelsey Manasco and a pair of Matador hitting errors.
In the fourth set, Cal State Northridge fought back from an 18-12 deficit to knot the score at 20-20, but the Aztecs scored five of the contest's final six points on a pair of kills by Paije Pearson, one each from Manasco and Salisbury, an ace by Hannasch and a CSUN attack error.
San Diego State will remain in the Bay Area until Monday, Sept. 7, when it will travel inland to Moraga face St. Mary's in a match slated to start at noon.