Nov. 14, 2017
SAN DIEGO -
Match Week Preview
San Diego State (16-13, 10-6 MW) at Wyoming (16-12, 11-5 MW)
Wednesday, Nov. 15 | 6:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. PT | UniWyo Sports Complex | Laramie, Wyo.
Series: SDSU 35-17
No. 24 Colorado State (25-3, 15-1 MW) at San Diego State (16-13, 10-6 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 18 | 1 p.m. PT | Aztec Court
Series: Colorado State 40-16
AZTECS PREPARE TO FACE WYOMING, No. 24 COLORADO STATE IN FINAL TWO REGULAR-SEASON MATCHES
> Winners of two in a row and seven of its last eight, San Diego State concludes its 2017 regular-season schedule this week when it battles Wyoming and 24th-ranked Colorado State for the first time this year.
> The Aztecs will square off against the Cowgirls in Laramie, Wyoming, on Wednesday, Nov. 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. before returning to the friendly environs of Montezuma Mesa to face the Rams on Saturday, Nov. 18, starting at 1 p.m. PT.
> In addition to live stats, both contests will feature streaming video on GoAztecs.com., including Wednesday's tilt via the Mountain West Network. > Saturday's contest will also include Senior Day festivities, with the Scarlet and Black celebrating the accomplishments of Alexis Cage, Baylee Little and Devyn Pritchard.
> The Aztecs recorded a pair of four-set victories at home last week, defeating UNLV (25-18, 16-25, 25-12, 25-13) before rallying past New Mexico (20-25, 26-24, 25-13, 25-12).
> Against the Lobos, SDSU's comeback efforts were jump-started by a huge 12-3 closing run in the second set, which erased a 21-14 deficit.
> With their results, the Aztecs took over sole possession of third place in the Mountain West with an 10-6 conference record.
> Saturday's match will mark SDSU's third outing of the year against a nationally ranked foe. The Aztecs dropped a pair of 3-0 decision at No. 23 Michigan State on Sept. 1 and at No. 17 San Diego on Sept. 17.
> SDSU is 16-0 this year when maintaining a higher hitting percentage and 8-0 when out-blocking their opponents.
SERIES RECORD VS. WYOMING
> The Aztecs, who will play the Cowgirls just once this season, lead the all-time series between the two schools 35-17.
> However, SDSU will be looking to snap a six-match losing streak at Wyoming. The Scarlet and Black is 10-14 in Laramie since 1990, logging its last victory there in 2009.
> The Aztecs and Cowgirls split two encounters last year, with each side winning on its home floor in five sets.
> In last season's match in Laramie, SDSU captured the third and fourth sets to even the contest at 2-2, but dropped a 15-13 heartbreaker in the final stanza.
> Individually, Deja Harris led the team with 18 kills in the aforementioned contest, while Alexis Cage (16), Alexandra Psoma (16) and Ashlynn Dunbar (10) reached the double-digit plateau in put-aways.
> Collectively, the Aztecs posted more kills (68-55) and digs (61-51); however, Wyoming committed 17 fewer attack errors (24-41) to help key their win.
SERIES RECORD VS. COLORADO STATE
> The Rams won both matches against San Diego State last year to raise their record to 40-16 in the all-time series.
> The Aztecs are 9-18 vs. Colorado State in San Diego and have dropped four straight in "America's Finest City."
> The Scarlet and Black posted its last victory against the Rams in 2013, upsetting the No. 9 CSU squad on the road, which marked the last time SDSU knocked off a ranked opponent.
> Baylee Little is the lone Aztec holdover from that contest, when she finished with 10 kills and hit .750 to go with five digs and three block assists.
> SDSU last defeated the Rams at home in 2012 when it recorded a four-set triumph en route to winning the Mountain West championship.
> In last season's five-set loss to Colorado State at home, Alexandra Psoma posted a career-high 24 kills, at least twice as many as any other player in the match, while Deja Harris came through with nine block assists.
> As a team, the Aztecs held the edge in kills (54-52) and digs (54-41), but got out-blocked (18.0 to 15.0).
> SDSU led 2-1 after three sets, but the Rams came back to capture the final two frames to escape with the victory (22-25, 25-21, 18-21, 25-20, 15-9).
WEEKLY WRAP
> San Diego State took over sole possession of third place in the Mountain West with a pair of 3-1 victories at home over UNLV (25-18, 16-25, 25-12, 25-13) and New Mexico (20-25, 26-24, 25-13, 25-12).
> Against the Rebels, the Aztecs avenged an earlier loss in Las Vegas, maintaining a hefty advantage in kills (60-32), hitting percentage (.295 to .070) and digs (66-38).
> Despite getting out-blocked as a team 13.0 to 8.0 for the night, SDSU seized control of the contest in the third and fourth sets, posting a .348 hitting percentage and knocked down more kills (33-11) while limiting UNLV to a minus-.002 clip.
> Individually, the Aztecs had three players reach double figures in kills, led by Ashlynn Dunbar and Deja Harris, who recorded 14 put-aways each, while Baylee Little finished with 12 non-returnables of own after hitting a career-best .857 with just two errors on 14 attempts, which marked the best performance in the MW so far this year.
> Setter Gabi Peoples (12 digs) also got into the act with her third double-double of the season on a match-high 51 assists, while libero Devyn Pritchard surpassed the 25-dig plateau for the fifth time in nine outings after leading all players with 26 scoops.
> Against the Lobos, SDSU held the edge in most statistical categories, including kills (58-48), digs (55-45) and team blocks (17.0 to 7.0) to complete the regular-season sweep of UNM.
> The block total marked a season high for the Scarlet and Black, which also benefited from nine errant Lobo serves.
> In addition, the Aztecs posted a greater hitting percentage (.296 to .175), including a .368 to .015 spread over the final two sets.
> SDSU was in danger of falling behind 0-2, but overcame a 21-14 deficit in the second set with a dramatic 12-3 run to escape by a narrow 26-24 margin, allowing the Aztecs to seize control in the final two frames.
> Offensively, SDSU was led by Harris, who blasted a match-high 15 kills and hit .565 for the contest with just two errors on 23 swings, while Dunbar (14), Little (12) and Alexis Cage (10) amassed double-digit put-ways.
> Pritchard was solid along the back row once again with a match-best 21digs, while Cage came up with 12 scoops as well to complete her team-leading sixth double-double of the year.
> At the net, Little established a career high with nine block assists, while Harris finished with eight, followed by Erin Gillcrist, who also set a personal best with seven blocks of her own in just her third appearance of the season.
HARRIS TABBED MW OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
> Deja Harris was named MW Offensive Player of the Week on Nov. 13, after a pair of outstanding performances in the Aztecs' two home victories over UNLV and New Mexico.
> With her award, Harris garnered her second career conference weekly accolade and the Aztecs' third this season.
> For the week, Harris posted a .458 attack percentage and averaged a team-high 3.62 kills in eight sets played.
> The SDSU middle blocker came up huge down the stretch vs. the Rebels and Lobos, hitting a combined .833 (10-0-12) with five kills in each of the fourth sets in those respective matches, helping the Aztecs secure their wins.
> Against UNLV on Nov. 9, Harris tied for match-high honors with 14 kills, while hitting at a .360 clip. She also chipped in a pair of service aces to help the Scarlet and Black avenge an earlier loss to the Rebels in Las Vegas.
> In SDSU's comeback victory over New Mexico on Saturday, Harris blasted a match-high 15 kills, marking her third straight contest with double-digit put-aways and 11th during conference play.
> The Aztec junior also hit .565 on the afternoon, marking her fourth-highest clip of the year and second-best during MW competition.
> In the second set against the Lobos, Harris knocked down two kills and added two block assists during a critical 12-3 run as the Aztecs overcame a 21-14 deficit to capture the frame and seize the momentum.
> In addition, Harris excelled at the net last week with 1.62 blocks per set, helping the Aztec defense limit both opponents to a combined .125 hitting percentage.
AZTECS AMONG MOUNTAIN WEST LEADERS
> Entering the week, Deja Harris, Devyn Pritchard and Gabi Peoples are among the MW leaders in various categories.
> In overall matches, Harris ranks third in the league with a .346 hitting percentage and 1.28 blocks per set.
> Pritchard also occupies third position this week with 4.66 digs per frame.
> Meanwhile, Peoples moved into the fourth slot with 9.61 assists per set.
> As a team, SDSU ranks among the top half of the conference in kills (3rd, 13.56/set), assists (4th, 12.43/set) and digs (5th, 13.62/set).
> In Mountain West matches, Pritchard maintains the top spot in digs (5.30/set); Peoples ranks second in assists (11.25/set); Baylee Little also catapulted into the No. 2 position with a .366 hitting percentage, while Harris is third in blocks (1.37/set).
> Collectively against conference foes, the Aztecs took over the No. 1 spot in the MW with 14.44 digs per set and rank second with 13.81 kills per set.
> In MW action, SDSU also finds itself among the top half of the league in opponent hitting percentage (2nd, .191), assists (4th, 12.48/set) and blocks (4th, 2.44/set).
KEYS TO THE TURNAROUND
> After starting Mountain West play with an 0-3 record, San Diego State has turned things around, winning 10 of 13 matches to take over third place in the conference standings.
> During that stretch, the Aztecs have maintained a statistical advantage in several categories, including kills (726-563) and digs (750-613).
> SDSU has averaged over three kills more per set than its opponents (14.24-11.04).
> Similarly, the Aztec defense has held firm, averaging well over two digs per set more than the opposition (14.71-12.02).
> SDSU also owns a modest edge in hitting percentage (.222-.166) despite committing more attack errors during that span (328-277).
> In addition, SDSU has benefited in the service department, committing 28 fewer errors than its adversaries (84-112).
SPREADING THE WEALTH
> Over the last 13 matches, San Diego State has also received balanced offensive production, with the quartet of Alexis Cage (159), Deja Harris (154), Ashlynn Dunbar (144) and Hannah Turnlund (125) combining for 582 of the team's 726 kills (80.2 percent).
> During that span, Harris has posted double-digit kill totals in 10 matches, while Cage and Dunbar have accomplished the feat on nine occasions, followed by Turnlund's eight.
> Cage has been particularly effective, averaging 3.12 kills and hitting .225 in 51 sets played, compared to the previous 16 matches when she averaged 2.03 kps and posted a .214 attack percentage.
> Against New Mexico, Cage posted her sixth double-double of the year with 10 kills and 12 digs.
> In addition, the Aztecs have profited from the play of Baylee Little (102 kills (2.27/set), 45 blocks (1.00/set), .376) and Sam McGrath (95 digs (1.86/set), 14 aces).
For complete release, please view PDF at the top of the page