SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team had its three-match winning streak snapped Thursday in a tough 3-0 loss to Wyoming (22-25, 23-25, 24-26) inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
The Aztecs dropped the three frames by a combined seven points, falling to 12-12 on the year and 5-8 in the Mountain West, while Cowgirls utilized several timely runs to help raise their record to 16-8 overall and 11-2 in conference play.
SDSU was led by Erin Gillcrist's 11 kills, while Hannah Turnlund completed her third consecutive double-double and seventh of the year with 10 put-aways and 12 digs. In addition, Andrea Walker floored eight shots to go with four block assists, while Victoria O'Sullivan finished with seven kills and three block assists of her own.
The Aztecs also received 36 assists and eight digs from Camryn Machado, while Loren Teter scooped up 11 digs in the loss.
Collectively, SDSU maintained a 50-43 advantage in digs and tied one of the league's toughest squads at the net with seven team blocks, but it wasn't enough as Wyoming pounded more kills (52-43) and committed five fewer attack errors (19-14) to complete the sweep.
The Aztecs faced a series of five-point deficits in the opening set, including a 15-10 spread following an errant attack. However, the Scarlet and Black fashioned a 12-7 surge to tie the score at 22-22. Walker bookended the run with a pair of kills and also combined with Machado on a block, while Gillcrist also launched two non-returnables during that span.
SDSU was unable to seize the lead though, self-destructing down the stretch with a service error and a wayward attack sandwiched around a kill by the Cowgirls' Tara Traphagan. Wyoming, which out-hit the Aztecs .322 to .211 for the match, posted its highest attack percentage in the set with a .389 clip, knocking down 18 kills on 36 attempts with four errors, compared to SDSU's .229 pace (13-5-35).
The second stanza was another closely contested affair with neither side gained more than a three-point advantage. The Aztecs nursed a slim 11-8 lead following a Gillcrist kill, but found themselves in pursuit mode for much of the set after the Cowgirls turned the tables with a 12-7 run to vault in front 20-18.
Back-to-back kills by Turnlund and Walker knotted the score once again at 20-20; however, Wyoming fought itself off the ropes with a 5-3 closing run, ignited by Jackie McBride's kill and combined blocks with Mackenzie Coates and KC McMahon, respectively, while Faith Waitsman supplied two put-aways, including the clincher.
The Aztecs fought valiantly in the third set, as the two sides combined for eight ties and three lead changes. SDSU grabbed an early 10-5 lead, thanks to a trio of kills by Turnlund and a combined block with Walker, who also joined forces with O'Sullivan on another stuff shortly thereafter.
However, the Aztecs could not maintain the momentum, as Wyoming methodically fought its way back into contention. Traphagan posted four kills and teamed with McBride on a block to key a 16-9 blitz that put the visitors ahead 21-19. SDSU forged a pair of ties down the stretch, including a 24-24 deadlock on a Cowgirl attack error.
The Aztecs was unable to capitalize on their good fortune, as McMahon followed with a kill, while McBride served up an ace to secure the set and match.
McBride (.476) led all players with 14 kills and six block assists, while Traphagan (.571) and McMahon (.308) finished with 12 put-aways each.
UP NEXT
San Diego State will have little time to dwell on its defeat, as 13th-ranked Colorado State invades The Mesa on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. PT. The first 300 fans in attendance will receive a free Aztec T-shirt.
Volleyball Falls to Wyoming in Tight Three-Setter
