Aug. 27, 2011
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State defeated Portland in a five-set thriller Saturday afternoon then dispatched Nevada in the nightcap to capture the championship of the 2011 Aztec Invitational volleyball tournament. Including their win over UC Irvine on Friday, the Aztecs have opened their new season with a perfect 3-0 mark just as they did a year ago.
Junior middle blocker Andrea Hannasch and senior outside hitter Kyley Sexton were named to the all-tournament team. Hannasch took home MVP honors as well after averaging 3.58 kills, 1.75 blocks and 1.17 digs per set while hitting .398 over her team's three matches. Sexton, meanwhile, recorded 19 kills in the win over Portland, averaging 3.00 per set over the weekend along with six service aces and a .281 hitting percentage.
In its opening match of the day, SDSU had to come from behind to defeat the Pilots by set scores of 21-25, 25-20, 24-26, 26-24, 15-9. In addition to Sexton's 19 kills, Hannasch had 14 while setter Johnna Fouch had a double-double with 55 assists and 10 digs.
The first set saw the teams evenly match with neither side able to forge more than a two-point lead until the score was knotted at 20-20. At that point, Pacific won the next four points to take control, winning the contest on a kill by Kate Bostwick.
The second set saw the Aztecs take a 15-11 lead only to have the Pilots score five straight points and go up 16-15. With the set tied at 18-all, it was San Diego State's turn to go on a run as they notched the next four points, eventually claiming the set by five points. Hannasch led the way in the contest with four kills, three blocks and a service ace.
In the third set, SDSU saw a late four-point lead evaporate as a 21-17 advantage quickly became a 22-22 score line. After the teams traded two points apiece, the visitors got a pair of kills from Ariel Usher to take a 2-1 set lead in the match.
The fourth set was another close contest with the Aztecs eventually claiming a two-point victory. The turning point came midway through the contest with Portland holding a 17-13 lead. The Aztecs rallied to win five of the next six points to even the set at 18-18. Neither team would lead by more than one the rest of the way until, at 24-all, the Aztecs got a pair of kills from Summer Nash to even the match at two sets apiece.
San Diego State then took control of the fifth and deciding set, jumping out to a 7-3 lead as it went on to the six-point win with Nash providing two of the game's final three points including the match winner.
The Aztecs made quicker work of Nevada in the final match of the tourney Saturday night, defeating the Wolf Pack in three sets by scores of 25-20, 25-14, 25-18. Hannasch led all players with 13 kills and five blocks with libero Kristi Jackels recording a match-high 13 digs.
The five-set win over Portland appeared to have taken a bit out of the Aztecs as Nevada jumped out to a quick 7-1 lead. SDSU used a run of six straight points to close within one at 14-13. After a Wolf Pack point, San Diego State rallied for five in a row to take control and go on to the five-point win. Hannasch led the way with four kills while freshman Chaiymin Steel added three along with a block.
The second set was a close one over the first half of the contest that found the teams were dead even at 14-all. The Aztecs then slowly gained the upper hand, scoring multiple points the rest of the way while Nevada was unable to sustain a run. Summer Nash paced SDSU with four kills with Hannasch and Raegan Shelton chipping in with three apiece.
Set number three played out much the same way as the score was tied at 14-14 when the Aztecs made their move and pulled away. Hannasch had five kills and four blocks with Nash and Sexton contributing three apiece to the winning cause.
Up next for San Diego State is a trip to New Orleans to participate in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Classic next weekend. The Aztecs will face host Tulane on Friday (Sept. 2) at 7:0 p.m. (CT) before facing Southern Illinois and William & Mary on Saturday.