Match Week Preview
San Diego State (2-14, 1-3 MW) vs. RV San Diego (7-7, 4-1 MW)
Tuesday, Oct. 2 | 6:00 p.m. PT | Peterson Gym | San Diego, Calif. | Mountain West Network
San Diego State (2-14, 1-3 MW) at Boise State (10-5, 2-2 MW)
Thursday, Oct. 4 | 7:30 p.m. MT | Bronco Gym | Boise, Idaho | Mountain West Network
San Diego State (2-14, 1-3 MW) at Utah State (3-12, 1-3 MW)
Saturday, Oct. 6 | 2:00 p.m. MT | Wayne Estes Center | Logan, Utah | Mountain West Network
Aztec Storylines
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN: San Diego State snapped a 13-match losing streak with a five-set (25-20, 20-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-13) over Wyoming on Saturday night. SDSU set new season-bests in digs (78) and assists (66) in a match that featured 35 tied scores and 14 total lead changes. With their first conference win of the season, SDSU also improved to 8-2 in its last 10 home matches against Wyoming.
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST USD, BSU, & USU: San Diego State meets with San Diego for the 30th consecutive year on Tuesday as the Aztecs wrap up their non-conference schedule.
The all-time series between Boise State and SDSU is currently tied at 7-7. The Aztecs and Broncos split the series last season, with the home team winning each match.
SDSU is 6-2 in its last eight meetings with Utah State. Both of those losses came in Logan, and the Aztecs and Aggies have split each of the past two season series. SDSU is 14-5 all-time against Utah State.
ASHLYNN DUNBAR, PRETTY GOOD: Ashlynn Dunbar became the first Aztec in the Mountain West era (SDSU joined the MW in 1999) to log a 20-kill, 20-dig performance, recording career-highs in both 23 kills and 22 digs in Saturday's win against Wyoming. Dunbar also set match-bests in hitting percentage (.383) and service aces (5). Dunbar also recorded a double double in a four-set loss against Colorado State, giving the junior from Seabrook, Texas her sixth and seventh double doubles of the season.
Currently, Dunbar is tied for first in the MW and eighth in the country with 32 service aces, eighth in the conference in points per set (3.92), and 10th in the MW in kills per set (3.15).
DEJA HARRIS BLOCK PARTY: Deja Harris is currently climbing her way up the SDSU record book in blocks, as her 404 career block assists currently ranks fourth in program history. In terms of block points, Harris is 3.5 block points away from entering the program's top 10, as the senior currently ranks 11th with 263. Harris stands third in the MW and 24th in the nation with 78 total blocks. Harris has led SDSU in blocks in 13 of 16 matches this season.
Among all active NCAA players, Harris is ninth in with 465 career total blocks. A 2018 preseason All-MW selection and three-time all-conference honoree, Harris is looking to become the first four-time all-MW selection in SDSU history.
The Las Vegas native currently ranks sixth in the Mountain West with 1.20 blocks per set and fifth in the MW with a .345 hitting percentage. Harris is one of three players in the MW to be in the top six in both categories.
Harris is also seventh in SDSU history with a .326 career hitting percentage. Harris is one of six players in Aztec history to have 260+ block points and a career hitting percentage of .315 or better.
With Harris ranking sixth in the MW with 4.02 points per set, Harris and teammate Ashlynn Dunbar (3.92 points per set) have SDSU as the only team in the Mountain West with multiple student-athletes in the conference's top eight points per set leaders.
BALANCED DEFENSIVE EFFORT: San Diego State has had five different players (Sam McGrath, Lauren Lee, Loren Teter, Ashlynn Dunbar, Hannah Turnlund) post a team-high for digs in a match this season. SDSU has recorded 845 digs this season in comparison to 822 digs by its opponents, and are led by McGrath (2.74 digs per set), Dunbar (2.58), and Lee (2.48).
SUCCESS AT HOME: The Aztecs are 27-18 (.600) in their last 45 matches at Peterson Gym.
TOUGH ROAD SO FAR: As of Tuesday, SDSU's 13 opponents during the 2018 season own a collective 141-97 (.592) record. Of those 15 previous opponents, 13 currently have records of .500 or better.
RELYING ON THE RETURNERS: Despite SDSU's roster being divided evenly between 10 returners and 10 newcomers, 83.1 percent of SDSU's kill total (684 of 823) has come from returning players. Defensively, 86.4 percent of SDSU's dig total (730 of 845) has come from returning players.
VB Hosts USD; Travels to Boise State and Utah State
