SAN DIEGO – After two grueling five-set matches, the San Diego State volleyball team was unable to sustain the momentum Saturday night against Arizona, dropping a 3-0 decision (10-25, 22-25, 19-25) to close out the SDSU/USD Invitational inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
The Aztecs (4-2) were outhit .437 to .185 on the night while trailing in kills (46-37), digs (30-23) and total blocks (5.0-2.0).
Victoria O'Sullivan posted double-digit kills for the sixth match in a row, knocking down 10 balls to lead the Scarlet and Black, while Tamia Reeves posted a sparkling .462 attack percentage, launching eight put-aways with just two errors in 13 attempts. In addition, Maddie Lenn got into the act with seven kills of her own, while Camryn Machado dished out 32 assists.
The Wildcats (4-2) cruised through the first set, committing just one error in 33 swings while logging 15 kills. Katie Smoot and Paige Whipple combined for nine of those visitor put-aways, capitalizing on seven errant SDSU attacks as well.
The Aztecs regrouped in the second stanza, however, as the two sides combined for six ties and three lead changes in a highly competitive set that featured several long rallies. SDSU engineered a 11-5 advantage thanks to three consecutive O'Sullivan kills, but a serving mishap and two straight attack errors allowed Arizona to remain in contention, along with a Smoot kill and a combined block by Julia Patterson and Shardonee Hayes.
The Aztecs tried to give themselves some separation, inching ahead 15-12 after two straight kills by Reeves and another from O'Sullivan. However, the Wildcats responded once again with four straight points, taking their first lead of the set at 16-15 following an errant SDSU attack.
The Aztecs gained the upper hand for the final time moments later on a Reeves service ace, which gave the host school an 18-17 edge, before Arizona countered with three straight points on two Patterson kills and another by Devyn Cross. SDSU drew even at 21-21 courtesy of a Wildcat hitting error, but was unable to seize control, as the Wildcats closed with a 4-1 spurt, buoyed by Hayes, who teamed with Patterson on a block before providing the clinching kill.
Stung, the Aztecs could not muster a sustained front in the third set despite forging an 8-8 tie following a kill by Lexie Hamrick. Moments later, Smoot found daylight on the floor with a shot, while Patterson followed with a service ace to put Arizona in front for good. Nursing a slim 11-10 lead after a kill by SDSU's Reeves, the Wildcats reeled off a timely 9-4 run and the Scarlet and Black never threatened again.
The Aztecs hit .478 in the set, but could not maintain Arizona's brisk .615 pace, as the Wildcats knocked down 18 kills with just two errors in 26 attempts during that span to seal the win.
Whipple led all players with 13 kills and 11 digs, while Smoot finished with 12 put-aways of her own. In addition, Hayes hit .583 for the night (9-2-12), while Patterson tallied 35 assists.
UP NEXT
San Diego State will travel to the desert next weekend when it competes in the GCU Invitational, Sept. 13-14, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Aztecs will face UC Riverside on Friday before battling Eastern Washington and host Grand Canyon on Saturday.
Volleyball Upended by Arizona
