SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team opens a two-match homestand this week when it entertains UNLV and New Mexico at Aztec Court. SDSU (8-5, 1-1 MW) will battle the Rebels on Thursday, Oct. 3, beginning at 6 p.m. PT, before locking horns with the Lobos on Saturday, Oct. 5, starting at 2 p.m. PT.
In addition to live stats, both contests will feature streaming video via the Mountain West Network on GoAztecs.com.
The first 250 fans in attendance for Saturday's tilt vs. UNLV will receive a free pink t-shirt in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
SDSU split its first two conference matches of the season last weekend, outlasting San José State in a five-set thriller at home (25-14, 25-23, 21-25, 26-28, 16-14) before falling to Nevada by a 3-1 count in Reno (22-25, 19-25, 25-20, 17-25).
Despite last Saturday's loss to the Wolf Pack, the Aztecs have still matched their best start since 2011 and 2012 when the Scarlet and Black began those respective seasons with an 8-5 mark.
In addition, SDSU has posted a 17-12 record since Sept. 29, 2018, after starting last season with a 1-14 ledger.
SERIES RECORDS
> Despite suffering a pair of losses to the Rebels a year ago, San Diego State still owns a 27-21 lead vs. UNLV in the all-time series.
> The Aztecs are 18-4 against the Rebels in San Diego and have won 10 of the last 12 encounters on The Mesa.
> However, UNLV claimed a 3-1 decision (25-17, 25-21, 17-25, 30-28) over the Scarlet and Black in their last visit to "America's Finest City" on Oct. 13, 2018, snapping SDSU's five-match winning streak at the time.
> Hannah Turnlund and Loren Teter are the Aztecs' top returners from that meeting vs. the Rebels inside Peterson Gym. Turnlund knocked down a match-high16 kills, hit .364 and added seven digs, while Teter led all players with 21 scoops of her own. In addition, Erin Gillcrist contributed eight kills, while Tamia Reeves finished with four block assists.
> San Diego State is 40-21 vs. New Mexico since 1976, having won four straight and six of the last seven in the all-time series.
> The Aztecs are 23-7 against the Lobos in San Diego and have captured seven consecutive meetings on The Mesa, including a 3-1 triumph (25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 25-15) last year on Oct. 11, 2018.
> In that contest, Victoria O'Sullivan posted season highs with 15 kills and a .400 hitting percentage, while Erin Gillcrist matched that clip, launching seven put-aways of her own with one error in 15 swings to go with a season-best eight block assists.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> UNLV (4-9, 0-2 MW) dropped its first two Mountain West matches last week, suffering a tough 3-2 loss at Wyoming after winning the first two sets, followed by a 3-1 setback at home to then-No. 17 Colorado State. Overall, the Rebels have lost five of their last six, with a 3-1 home triumph over Kansas marking their lone victory during that stretch. Individually, UNLV is led by the outside hitter tandem of freshman Shelby Capllonch, who ranks ninth in the MW with 3.12 kills per set (181 overall), while junior Thea Sweder averages 2.62 kills per frame (118 overall). In addition, junior Macy Smith occupies the eighth spot in the league with a .327 hitting percentage and tops the squad with 49 total blocks (0.84/set), while sophomore Kate Brennan has contributed 47 total blocks (0.81/set) in the middle as well. The Rebels' setting responsibilities have been shared by senior Antonette Rolda (5.52 assists/set, 320 overall) and sophomore Lauryn Burt (4.83 assists/set, 280 overall), while Capllonch and junior Mariena Hayden are tied for the team lead in digs so far this year with an average of 2.91 per set. As a team, UNLV ranks third in the MW in service aces (1.48/set), with Burt (16), Capllonch (15), Sweder (12), Paris Oliveira (12) and Hayden (10) each posting double digits in this category. In addition, the Rebels occupy the fourth position in the conference with an average of 12.47 kills and 11.60 assists per set. However, UNLV is allowing a league-worst .254 hitting percentage by the opposition. Head coach Dawn Sullivan is in her second season with the Rebels after leading her squad to a 22-12 record last year, highlighted by a semifinal appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. Prior to her arrival at UNLV, Sullivan spent 13 years as an assistant at Iowa State, including the final six as associate head coach.
> New Mexico (5-9, 0-2 MW) came up empty its two conference openers last week as well, dropping a 3-0 decision at then-No. 17 Colorado State before falling short to Wyoming in a 3-2 nail-biter at home. Trailing 14-11 in the fifth set vs. the Cowgirls, the Lobos fought off three match points to tie the score at 14-14, but Wyoming used a 3-1 run to escape with the match. Prior its clash with the Aztecs, New Mexico will battle Fresno State in a road match on Thursday. Individually, the Lobos are led by senior Lauren Twitty, who ranks 10th in the conference with 3.09 kills per set (164 overall), while the fellow classmate Tai Bierria (2.47/set, 131 overall) and freshman Kaitlynn Biassou (2.17/set, 104 overall) are averaging over two put-aways per frame. Additionally, freshman Alena Molden ranks fifth in digs (4.08/set), while sophomore Rachel Murphy (7th, 1.08 blocks/set) and sophomore Jaclyn Inclan (10th, 5.73 assists per set) also find themselves among the league leaders. Collectively, UNM occupies the fifth spot in digs with 14.11 per set and ranks sixth in blocks with 2.09 per frame. However, the Lobos find themselves near the bottom of the MW in hitting percentage (9th, .165), kills (10th, 10.91/set) and assists (10th, 10.08/set). SDSU and UNM have faced one common opponent during their respective non-conference schedules, with both sides coming out on the wrong side of the scoreboard against Grand Canyon. The Lobos are guided by first-year head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar, who arrived on the Albuquerque campus after serving a three-year stint at Arkansas as associate head coach. Newman-Gonchar has also had stops as an assistant coach at Iowa State (2013-15), Loyola Marymount (2010-12), as well as UC San Diego with both the men's and women's teams (2007-09).
AZTECS AMONG MOUNTAIN WEST LEADERS
> Entering the second weekend of conference play, San Diego State boasts six players among the Mountain West leaders in various categories.
> Camryn Machado is holding down the No. 2 spot with an average of 10.71, assists per set, while Tamia Reeves is fourth with a .361 hitting percentage.
> In addition, Victoria O'Sullivan (3.55/set) and Hannah Turnlund (3.47/set) rank fifth and sixth in kills, respectively, while Lexie Hamrick is 10th with a .303 hitting percentage.
> Not to be outdone, Loren Teter also landed in the ninth position this week with 3.51 digs per set.
> As a team, SDSU ranks among the top half of the conference for all matches in hitting percentage (3nd, .238), kills (4th, 13.04/set) and assists (4th, 12.20/set).
NOTHIN' LIKE HOME COOKIN'
> In head coach Deitre Collins-Parker's tenure, the Aztecs have amassed an 87-45 (.659) record at home, highlighted by a 14-0 mark during the 2012 season when SDSU captured the Mountain West championship.
> San Diego State is 4-1 this season at Aztec Court, including victories over West Virginia and Arkansas as part of the SDSU/USD Invitational.
ON THE HORIZON
Following Saturday's clash, the Aztecs will open a four-match road swing, starting next week when it travels to Wyoming on Thursday, Oct. 10, before tangling with No. 16 Colorado State two days later on Oct. 12.