Sept. 19, 2014
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - San Diego State opened play at the Crimson-White Tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Friday with losses to Clemson and Alabama. The Tigers downed the Aztecs in three sets (25-18, 25-21, 25-21) in SDSU's first match of the day with Alabama administering a four-set defeat (25-20, 19-25, 25-21, 25-11) in the nightcap.
With the losses, San Diego State saw its record fall to 3-6. After beginning the season with three straight losses, the Aztecs won three in a row, but have now dropped their last three contests. Clemson and Alabama improved to 10-1 and 11-2 respectively.
In the afternoon match against Clemson, SDSU couldn't get its offense to click as it finished with a .088 hitting percentage. The Tigers fared little better in that stat, finishing with a .146 attack mark.
Three Aztecs ended the match with seven kills apiece including Ciara Brown, Chaiymin Steel and Kaja Sandberg. The trio accounted for 21 of their team's 33 kills in the contest. Brown also had a block and seven digs while Steel contributed a pair of blocks and nine digs.
Senior Chloe Mathis and freshman Courtney Eckenrode split time at the setter position. Mathis had 14 assists and seven digs while Eckenrode chipped in 10 assists and a kill.
The match against Alabama featured a pair of Aztecs in double figures in kills. Brown led the team with 12 and also had a block assist and two digs. Junior Halle Aiken ended the contest with 11 kills along with three service aces, three digs and a block.
A pair of freshman set season/career highs in the match as well. Eckenrode played all four sets and ended the contest with season personal-best 40 assists. Defensive specialist Alexa Saba turned in a new personal high with 17 digs. In addition, Jensen Cunningham had eight kills and led the Aztecs with four block assists.
San Diego state will conclude tournament play on Saturday (Sept. 20) when it faces Florida International at 3:30 p.m. (CT).