Oct. 4, 2012
SAN DIEGO - For the second time the three matches, San Diego State came back from a two-sets-to-one deficit to claim a five-set win as it defeated Fresno State 25-23, 19-25, 24-26, 25-17, 17-15 Tuesday evening in Peterson Gym. With the victory the Aztecs improved to 10-6 overall as they evened their conference record at 2-2.
Sophomore outside hitter Summer Nash had 20 kills to lead the Aztecs and also added four blocks and four digs to her final stat line. Raegan Shelton had 17 kills along with a pair of blocks while Andrea Hannasch finished the night with 14 kills, five blocks, nine digs and a pair of service aces.
SDSU setter Johnna Fouch contributed 42 assists along with three blocks while libero Kristi Jackels had 15 digs to lead the Aztecs. In addition, middle blocker Emily Harris equaled her season high with nine blocks and also chipped in with seven kills.
Fresno State's Maci Murdock and Marissa Brand were the Bulldogs' kill leader as they recorded 15 apiece while libero Christina Lee led all players with 19 digs.
In the opening set, San Diego State went ahead for good at 7-6 and built their advantage to as many as six points at 15-9. The Bulldogs (9-7, 2-2 MW) fought back to get within to at 20-18, but the Aztecs scored four of the next six points to take a 24-20 lead. The visitors, however, would not go quietly as they tallied three straight points before a hitting error gave SDSU the two-point win. Shelton led all players with six kills while Hannasch and Nash had three apiece.
The second set saw the teams within a point of each other as the Bulldogs led 9-8. From there FSU scored four in a row and took control of the contest as it stretched its lead to eight points at 20-12. The Aztec attempted to make a late run and closed to within three at 22-19, but Fresno State re-asserted itself to take the final three points on an SDSU attack error, a kill by Jaimee-Lee Morrow and a service ace by Lee.
After the break, San Diego State jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the third set, but they were unable to pull away from the Bulldogs, who eventually knotted the score at 18-18. After the teams traded several points, Fresno took a 24-22 lead, but couldn't close out the set as a hitting error and kill by Harris tied the game at 24-24. But the Bulldogs then got back-to-back kills from Megan Callahan and Korrin Wild to win the set and go up 2-1 in the match.
Set number four was close through the first half of the game at which point SDSU put together a four-point run to take control at 17-12. The visitors recovered to pull within two points (18-16), but SDSU was tough down the stretch as it scored seven of the final eight points, including four on kills by Nash, to even the match at 2-2.
The fifth and deciding set reflected the overall closeness of the match as neither team could gain a significant advantage as contest saw five lead changes and was tied on 13 occasions. San Diego State looked to be in control when it took a 9-6 lead, but that was short-lived as Fresno came right back to tie the set and go up 10-9. The Bulldogs had a chance at match point with a 14-13 lead, but a kill by Shelton evened the score at 14-all.
The Aztecs then had chance at match point at 15-14 only to see FSU tie it again on an Aztec service error. The Bulldogs, however, returned the favor with a service error of their own to allow SDSU to go ahead 16-15. The ensuing serve by Hannasch hit the top of the net and dropped into the Fresno State court to give the Aztecs the hard fought set and match victory.
San Diego State continues home action on Sunday (Oct. 7) when its hosts league-leading UNLV at 1:00 p.m. on Aztec Court in Peterson Gym. That match will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network.