FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The San Diego State volleyball team ran into a buzz-saw at Colorado State on Saturday, falling in three sets (19-25, 15-25, 16-25) to the 15th-ranked Rams at Moby Arena.
Although the Aztecs held a slight edge in team blocks (4.0-3.0) and digs (39-37), it wasn't enough to prevent a 10th straight defeat to Colorado State, which outhit the Scarlet and Black by a sizable .406 to .132 margin while maintaining a hefty advantage in kills (46-30).
In all, the Rams committed just seven attack errors for the match, keeping their unblemished conference mark intact at 6-0 while improving to 16-1 overall. Conversely, SDSU lost its second in a row, slipping to 9-8 on the year and 2-4 in the MW.
Hannah Turnlund (9) and Andrea Walker (7) combined for over half the Aztecs' kill total, while Tamia Reeves hit .625 with five put-aways of her own on eight swings and no errors. In addition, Loren Teter scooped up a team-high 11 digs, while Camryn Machado just missed out on her 10th double-double of the year after finishing with 23 assists and nine digs.
However, SDSU was unable to contain the CSU tandem of Kirstie Hillyer (.667) and Breanna Runnels (.308), who knocked down 12 kills apiece, while Paulina Hougaard-Jensen (.462) launched seven non-returnables as well. In addition, Alexa Roumeliotis led all players with 12 digs, while two-time MW Player of the Year Katie Oleksak totaled a match-high 33 assists to go with six digs.
The opening set was the closest of the three, as the teams combined for six ties and two lead changes. The Aztecs managed to grab a 13-9 lead thanks in part to consecutive Lauren Lee service aces. However, the Rams reeled off nine straight points, changing the entire complexion of the match. Runnels sparked the run with a pair of kills, while Oleksak added another to go with a block solo, and SDSU never recovered.
The Aztecs trimmed the margin to three on four separate occasions but could draw no closer. Trailing 22-19, SDSU was held scoreless the rest of the way, as the Rams received clinching kills by Hillyer and Runnels sandwiched around an attack error, one of seven committed by the Scarlet and Black during the frame. Overall, CSU registered 17 kills and a .484 hitting percentage, totaling just two miscues on 31 attempts to capture the set.
The second stanza witnessed more of the same, as the Rams posted 15 killls to go with just one errant attack in 29 swings for a .483 hitting percentage. Save for a 1-1 tie, the Aztecs never led in the set, but kept within striking distance at 10-7 following a Teter service ace. However, CSU benefited from another timely run, utilizing an 11-2 blitz to squash any comeback hopes for SDSU. The Aztecs were victimized by two Alyssa Burt aces, while Oleksak added another in that span.
SDSU briefly led in the third set 2-1 after a combined block by Walker and Erin Gillchrist; however, the Rams went ahead to stay moments later on a Runnels kills followed by two straight Aztec attack errors. Facing a 14-9 deficit, SDSU narrowed the gap to 15-13 on a combined block by Turnlund and Abby Pugh but got no closer. CSU quickly dialed up a 10-3 run to secure the set and the match, with Ellie Gubser posting three kills during that stretch.
UP NEXT
San Diego State will have little time to dwell on its loss before continuing its road swing on Monday, Oct. 14 with a Mountain West clash at Fresno State. First serve from Save Mart Center is set for 6 p.m. PT.
Volleyball Toppled at No. 15 Colorado State, 3-0
