Sept. 18, 2010
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SAN DIEGO - Despite a career-high kill performance from Kyley Sexton and a spirited comeback in the deciding fifth set, San Diego State found itself on the short end of a highly competitive contest as it felt to UC Santa Barbara Friday night in Peterson Gym. The match was the finale of the USD/SDSU Challenge tournament with the Gauchos claiming victory by set scores of 26-24, 20-25, 24-26, 25-18, 15-12.
Coupled with a loss to 12th-ranked Minnesota earlier on Saturday, the Aztecs saw their record fall to 6-7 on the season as they dropped their sixth straight after opening the year with five wins in their first six outings. UCSB, meanwhile, evened its ledger at 6-6.
Sexton was the offensive star of the match as she led all players with a career-high 25 kills. The junior outside hitter from Salem, Ore., completed a double-double effort with 11 digs and also contributed two blocks and a service ace. Sexton was named to the all-tournament team after averaging 3.42 kills and 1.28 digs over SDSU's three matches.
Lauren Salisbury (11) and Andrea Hannasch (10) also finished the night in double figures in kills for the Aztecs. Hannasch was a force defensively as well as she had nine blocks and also chipped in with five digs.
In addition, libero Kristi Jackels had a season-high 28 digs, a number that was one shy of her career best as an Aztec. Junior outside hitter Jessica Peacock's seven kills and six blocks represented personal bests in both categories for the Australian.
The Gauchos hit double figures in kills led by Charlene DeHoog with 18. She was joined by Stacey Schmidt (15) and Mimi Cuttrell (10).
The Aztec had a chance to take control of the match in the opening set as it led 22-19, but UCSB fought back with four consecutive points to take a 23-22 lead. After each team scored twice, the Gauchos claimed the contest after an SDSU hitting error and a kill by Mimi Cuttrell.
It was almost déjàvu in set two as the Aztecs built a23-14 lead only to see Santa Barbara score four in a row to close to within five at 23-18. But the Aztecs held on, getting kills from Peacock and Johnna Fouch to claim the five-point victory and even the match at one set apiece.
Set three was more of the same as a closely-contested match saw San Diego State with a late 21-18 lead. The Gauchos then scored five of the next seven points to tie the contest at 23-all. Each team scored a point before the Aztecs got back-to-back kills from Peacock and Salisbury to capture the set.
The fourth set saw the teams battle back-and-forth, never separated by more than a single point until the score reached 11-11. From there, UC Santa Barbara gabbed two quick points to take a lead it would not relinquish over the remainder of the set. The Gauchos slowly pulled away behind the hitting of Schmidt and DeHoog, who had five and four kills respectively.
The fifth and deciding set saw UCSD race out to an 8-1 lead and appear to have to set and match well in hand. But the Aztecs thought differently and came back to within a point at 12-11 behind four kills by Raegan Shelton and a pair by Salisbury. The teams traded points before back-to-back kills by Schmidt and DeHoog provided the final two points as the Gauchos held on for the victory.
In the earlier match, San Diego fell to 12th-ranked Minnesota in three sets by scores of 25-12, 25-20, 20-13. Andrea Hannasch led the Aztecs with nine kills and hit .333 while Lauren Salisbury had seven kills and three blocks, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Golden Gophers on the day.
UM's Ashley Wittman led all players with 10 kills while teammate Tori Dixon recorded five blocks, but it was the Gophers presence at the net defensively that was a major factor in their success. That presence forced the Aztecs into 22 attack errors over the three sets, causing them to hit just .159 for the match. Minnesota, meanwhile, had only seven total hitting errors and hit .459.
After the visitors came out and controlled the opening set from start to finish, SDSU began the second contest by jumping out to a 9-6 lead. The Golden Gophers, however, scored four straight points to take a 10-9 lead. After the teams traded points, UM went ahead for good at 13-12 and held off any Aztec comeback attempts en route to the win. The third set was similar to the opener as Minnesota ran out to a quick 10-4 lead and cruised to the set and match victory.
San Diego State will now prepare for Mountain West Conference action as it opens its league season on Thursday, Sept, 23, against New Mexico at 7:00 p.m. (PT) in Peterson Gym.