SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team dropped its fifth match in a row on Thursday after falling to Utah State in three sets (23-25, 13-25, 19-25) at Jenny Craig Pavilion on the University of San Diego campus.
A roof leak affecting SDSU's Peterson Gym forced the Aztecs-Aggies clash into a late venue switch.
SDSU (3-8, 3-8 MW) was plagued by 24 attack errors and seven wayward serves, as USU posted a greater hitting percentage (.244 to .059) and served up eight aces to help fuel its win.
In addition, the Aggies (2-6, 2-6 MW) maintained the statistical advantage in kills (34-30), digs (35-34) and team blocks (9.0-5.0) to snap a five-match losing streak against the Aztecs.
Individually, SDSU received 10 kills apiece from Andrea Walker and Victoria O'Sullivan, while Lauren Lee led the Scarlet and Black with 11 digs. The Aztecs also received three block assists from Serena Hodson, while Ashley Vanderpan handed out a match-high 23 assists.
The opening set was the most competitive of the three, with the teams combining for nine ties. Walker blasted six of her kills during the frame, while O'Sullivan added four. Walker floored a shot to give the Aztecs a slim 19-18 advantage before the Aggies scored three straight points to take the lead for good. Autumn Spafford and Tatum Stall knocked down kills sandwiched around a combined block by Spafford and Bailey Downing, which prompted an SDSU timeout.
The Aztecs kept within striking distance, narrowing the gap to 24-23 following an Erin Gillcrist solo block. However, SDSU could not gain the upper hand, committing an attack error on the final serve, as the Aggies hung on to their precarious lead.
Two kills by O'Sullivan and Gillcrist helped give the Scarlet and Black a 3-2 edge early in the second stanza before USU turned the tables with nine straight points to grab the lead it would not relinquish. Corinne Larsen sparked the run with three kills and a solo block, while Downing and Whitney Solosabal-Parks added put-aways of their own to help put the Aggies in front 11-3.
SDSU twice trimmed the margin to six, including a 16-10 spread following a kill by Heipua Tautua'a, but could draw no closer, as USU closed with a 9-3 spurt to keep the hosts at bay.
The Aztecs self-destructed in the third frame, recording more attack errors (11) than kills (7), which thwarted any comeback efforts. Save for a 2-2 tie, the Aggies led throughout, fashioning a pair of six-point leads, including a 16-10 margin after a Spafford kill and an SDSU ball-handling error. Kills by O'Sullivan and Hodson coupled with a Lee service helped pull the Aztecs to within three at 18-15. However, Larsen launched two kills and joined forces with Stall on a block, while Solosabal-Parks added an ace during a timely 4-1 run that put USU in the proverbial driver's seat at 22-16.
The Aggies shared the offensive burden on the Thursday, as Downing (.300) finished with nine kills, while Larsen (.545) total eight put-aways on 11 swings with just two errors. In addition, Spafford led all players with five block assists, while Solosabal-Parks (7 kills) added four.
San Diego State closes out its series with Utah State at Jenny Craig Pavilion once again on Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Toppled by Utah State in Three Sets
