Nov. 8, 2016
AZTECS OPEN FINAL HOME STAND OF 2016 SEASON
The San Diego State volleyball team will play three matches on Aztec Court over the next week as the Aztecs conclude their 2016 home schedule. The home stand begins with a match against Mountain West co-leader Colorado State on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 6:00 p.m. (PT) on Aztec Court. Two days later, the Aztecs will host Wyoming on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 6:00 p.m. (PT). Live video as well as live stats for both matches this week will be available with links at GoAztecs.com.
SERIES RECORDS
The Aztecs' all-time record against Colorado State stands at 16-39 since the teams met in the second round of pool play at the 1980 AIAW Championship Regionals in Santa Barbara. The Rams have won 28 of the last 30 matches against the Aztecs. SDSU last defeated Colorado State on Aztec Court during the 2012 season.
San Diego State has a record of 34-17 all-time vs Wyoming since the teams first met during the 1984 season. The Cowgirls have won six of the last seven meetings between the teams over the past four years including a five-set win in Laramie in mid-October. SDSU's last win over Wyoming came in San Diego during the 2014 campaign.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Colorado State's record stands at 17-7 overall and 11-2 as it has won 11 of its last 13 matches and sits atop the league standings tied with Boise State. CSU's top players include Sanja Cizmic (3.06 kps, 0.90 dps) and Jasmine Hanna (2.86 kps, 0.55 bps). Alexandra Poletto and Kirstie Hillyer are averaging 1.29 and 1.51 blocks per set respectively.
Wyoming begins the week with a record of 17-9 (10-3 MW) as the Cowgirls have won five in a row and seven of their last nine matches. The Cowgirls will play at Nevada Thursday evening prior to facing SDSU on Saturday. Wyoming is led offensively by Kayla Slofkiss (2.73 kps, 2.38 dps) and Laurel Beach (2.73 kps, 1.04 bps). Reed Copeland is averaging 1.33 blocks per set.
SENIOR NIGHT
Saturday's contest against Wyoming has been designated as Senior Night and the Aztecs will honor five athletes who are concluding their SDSU Careers this season. Those five players include defensive specialist Danielle Bolden, outside hitter Alexis Cage, middle blocker Emma Fuzie, setter Hailey Jones and defensive specialist Alexa Saba.
PSOMA LEADS HITTERS
Sophomore Alexandra Psoma has averaged 3.88 kills per set over SDSU's last four matches. She set a career high with 23 kills against Boise State on Oct. 29 and also had a personal career best of 23.5 points in the match. She continues to lead the SDSU offense with an average of 3.24 kills per set in all matches, a mark that ranks 10th in the Mountain West this week. After 13 Mountain West matches, she is averaging 3.46 kills per set in league play to rank fourth in the category. Psoma has finished in double figures in kills in each of the Aztecs' last six matches and 12 of the last 13.
UTCHEN TAKES OVER
Sophomore Lauren Utchen took over as the Aztecs' starting setter in last Saturday's (Nov. 5) match at Fresno State. In that contest she tied her season high with 44 assists and also averaged 2.00 digs per set. Utchen has started four matches for the Aztecs this season and has averaged 10.36 assists per set in those contests.
HARRIS AMONG TOP HITTERS
Deja Harris' .342 hitting percentage in all matches this season stands seventh in the conference this week. Her mark of 1.00 blocks per set in all matches ranks 12th while her mark of 1.06 bps in league matches ranks 11th. She has averaged 1.16 blocks per set over San Diego State's last six outings. Harris is second on the squad in kills at 2.74 per set after averaging 3.00 kills per set in SDSU's two contests last week.
BOLDEN SERVES IT UP
Danielle Bolden has recorded at least one service ace in 12 of the Aztecs' last 13 matches. Her mark of 0.52 aces per set in conference matches is second in the league this week while her overall mark of 0.36 aces per set stands fourth in the overall stats. In addition, Bolden's averages of 2.27 digs per set in all matches and 2.22 per set in conference play are second only to libero Devyn Pritchard for the team lead.
PRITCHARD AT LIBERO
Sophomore Devyn Pritchard has been SDSU's primary starter at the libero position for as majority of the 2016 season. She averaged 4.00 digs per set in the match vs. Boise State on Oct. 29 and bettered that with an average of 4.75 per set at Fresno State last Saturday (Nov. 5). She set her season high with 23 digs in the win over Utah State on Sept. 24. Pritchard's average of 3.16 digs per set ranks seventh in the overall league stats this week while her mark of 3.12 dps in conference matches is 10th.
AZTEC NOTES
As a team, San Diego State ranks fourth of 11 Mountain West squads in kills (13.15 per set) and assists (12.29 per set) … The Aztecs are third in service aces (1.24 per set) and fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.194) in conference play. SDSU's current three-match losing streak is its longest of the season and the first time it has lost more than two straight … Freshman Hannah Turnlund came off the bench to record 10 kills in the match at San Jose State on Nov. 3, her first multiple-kill effort since Oct. 8. Only Deja Harris and Alexandra Psoma have started all 27 matches this season for SDSU. Harris has played in all 102 sets in 2016 while Psoma and Alexis Cage have appeared in 101. Danielle Bolden has played in 100 of the Aztecs' 102 sets this fall.