Oct. 18, 2011
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State gave the 16th-ranked University of San Diego all it could handle before falling to the Toreros in five sets Tuesday night at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion. USD captured the match by set scores of 25-13, 13-25, 20-25, 25-18, 15-4 as it improved to 21-1 on the season. The loss ended a four-match winning streak for SDSU, which saw its record fall to 12-6.
Andrea Hannasch and Chaiymin Steel led San Diego State with eight kills apiece on a night when the Aztec offense faced a strong defensive side in USD. Hannasch also finished with four blocks, six digs and a pair of assists while Steel added eight digs, two blocks and two assists.
Sophomore Emily Harris led all players with seven blocks and also chipped in with six kills and three digs. Raegan Shelton contributed seven kills while libero Kristi Jackels tied her season high with four service aces while matching Steel's team-high eight digs.
USD's Amber Tatsch led the Toreros with 18 kills and completed a double-double effort by adding a dozen digs. San Diego finished the match with a total of 54 kills and a .154 hitting percentage compared to SDSU's 40 kills and .079 attack percentage. The Torero defense notched 69 digs over the five sets while the Aztecs ended the evening with 48.l
The first two sets were mirror images of each other. USD looked like it was ready to mark short work of the Aztecs as it raced out to a 25-13 win in the opener only to have the tables reversed when the Aztecs answered with a 25-13 win of their own in the second set.
San Diego State's best offensive effort of the night came after the break as they hit .355 in the third set and claimed a 25-20 win to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Both teams finished the game with 13 kills with the difference being nine USD attack errors to just two by the Aztecs.
The Toreros recovered in the fourth set as they quickly jumped out to a 6-1 lead. San Diego State was able to get back within a point at 9-8, but five straight USD points put the home side in control and it went on to win the set and even the match at two sets apiece.
USD carried the momentum into the fifth and deciding set as it raced out to a 7-0 lead en route to a 15-4 win. The Toreros dominated play in the game, hitting .545 while holding the Aztecs to a -.214 attack percentage.
Up next for San Diego State is a return to Mountain West play as it hosts UNLV on Friday, Oct. 21, at 6:00 p.m. on Aztec Court in Peterson Gym. That match will be televised live on The Mtn network.