HONOLULU, Hawaii-- Despite standout performances by Ashlynn Dunbar and Deja Harris, the San Diego State volleyball team dropped a tough four-set decision (19-25, 25-20, 28-30, 14-25) against Idaho on the second day of the Outriggers Volleyball Challenge hosted by the University of Hawai'i on Friday.
In a first set that featured nine occasions with the score tied, SDSU (1-7) used a game-high five kills by Dunbar to keep the game close at 17-17. Unfortunately for SDSU, Idaho (5-3) rallied for an 8-2 run to end the set, and jumped out to a 1-0 advantage after a 25-19 win.
The Aztecs used one of its strongest offensive showings of the season in the second set, posting a team .324 hitting percentage to even the match at 1-1. Hannah Turnlund served as the offensive catalyst for the Aztecs in the second set, logging six kills on just nine attempts. SDSU jumped out to a commanding 20-12 lead in the second set, and while the Vandals used a 6-0 run to cut SDSU's lead to just two, the Aztecs used a 5-2 run after taking a timeout to claim the set and even the match with a 25-20 win.
In an offensive-focused third set, SDSU relied heavily on Dunbar, who logged seven of SDSU's 16 kills. Dunbar particularly shined with the set on the line, recording each of SDSU's final three kills in the game to give the Aztecs a narrow 27-26 lead. Unfortunately for SDSU, the Vandals used a similar performance from Sarah Sharp, who logged four of Idaho's final five kills to claim the third set, 30-28, and take a 2-1 lead.
Idaho carried that momentum into a match-clinching fourth set, using an 8-0 run to take a 12-4 lead and eventually take the set, 25-14. The Aztecs were limited to an uncharacteristic .143 hitting percentage during the fourth set, while the Vandal offense clicked at a .486 clip during the fourth set.
Dunbar led all players in the match with 18 kills, good for her seventh double-digit kill performance of the season. Harris sat just behind Dunbar with 15 kills of her own against Idaho while posting a team-best .500 hitting percentage.
On the defensive side, Sam McGrath posted a team-best 22 digs, while Dunbar and Harris led SDSU with three blocks apiece.
NOTES
- SDSU's 28 points in the third set is its most in a set loss since posting 29 points against Air Force in the second set on October 7, 2017.
- SDSU's .231 team hitting percentage was its best since over its last six matches and its best since hitting .255 against Portland on Aug. 25.
- Idaho posted a .353 hitting percentage for the match, becoming just the second time this season SDSU has allowed a team to hit .300 or better this year.
UP NEXT
SDSU finishes Outriggers Volleyball Challenge action on Sunday, playing tournament host Hawai'I (5-0) at 5:00 p.m. HT. The match will be live streamed through the Big West Conference and on radio via ESPN 1420.
Volleyball Falls to Idaho in Four Sets
