Nov. 26, 2011
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State wrapped up its 2011 season with a four-set win over visiting Pittsburgh Saturday evening on Aztec Court in Peterson Gym. The victory allowed SDSU to improve to 18-10 while the Panthers saw their record fall to 18-15.
For the second consecutive match it was sophomore Summer Nash who led the Aztecs with 13 kills while hitting .346. Along the way she recorded stats in every category with two assists, a service ace, a dig and a block.
Fellow Aztec Raegan Shelton also reached double figures in kills with a dozen while middle blocker Andrea Hannasch recorded 10 kills and four blocks. Freshman Chaiymin Steel led SDSU with six blocks while libero Kristi Jackels had a match-high 16 digs. In addition, setter Johnna Fouch notched 45 assists along with 11 digs to record her 11th double-double of the season.
Pitt's Kiesha Leggs led all players with 17 kills and eight blocks on the night. She was joined in double figures in kills by fellow Panther Monica Wignot who had 12.
San Diego State got off to a fast start in the opening set, running out to a 16-6 lead and seemingly cruising to victory. Although Pit was unable to totally make up the deficit, it did draw to within three at 23-20 before a kill by Sexton and a Panther hitting error allowed the Aztecs to claim the five-point win. Sexton led SDSU with four kills while teammate Oni Lattin recorded four blocks.
The second set saw Pitt break a 6-6 tie with three straight points and not give up the lead the remainder of the contest. Leggs accounted for nine of the Panthers' points on her own with six kills and three blocks as SDSU got no closer than three the remainder of the set. Nash had six kills to lead the Aztec effort.
Set number three saw five lead changes and the scored tied on 14 occasions with neither team able to take command as the momentum shifted back and forth. Beginning with the score tied at 19-19, SDSU and Pitt alternated points with the Aztecs having the lead each time only to see the visitors reply to tie it up. Finally at 25-25, San Diego State got back-to-back kills from Shelton to win the set and go up 2-1 in the match.
In the fourth set, San Diego State found itself down by three (13-10) at the mid-point of the contest before rallying for five straight points to take a two-point lead. That run was made possible by two kills from Shelton, one apiece from Fouch and Pearson along with a service ace by Fouch. Although they were unable to pull away, the Aztecs maintained their advantage over the remainder of the set with Shelton eventually providing the kill that gave the home side the set and match victory.
SDSU concludes it 2011 campaign with its highest win total since the 2003 season when it finished with an 18-14 record. Its 10-4 league mark and second-place finish were its bests since 2002 when it was the regular season runner-up with 11-3 ledger in conference play.