LARAMIE, Wyo. – Playing its first road match in four weeks, the San Diego State volleyball team gave host Wyoming all it could handle on Friday but was unable to complete a winning formula, dropping a three-set decision (19-25, 24-26, 22-25) to open its weekend series at UniWyo Sports Complex.
With the setback, the Aztecs (3-6, 3-6 MW) were dealt their third straight loss, as the Cowgirls (6-3, 6-3 MW) benefited from 12 service errors by the visitors.
The two sides were fairly even on the stat sheet, tying in team blocks with six apiece, while SDSU maintained a slight advantage in digs (42-39). However, Wyoming outhit the Aztecs .282 to .218 for the evening, including a .429 to .290 spread in the third set, where the Scarlet and Black committed three more attack errors (5-2) in trying to extend the match.
Individually, SDSU was led by the trio of Nya Blair, Heipua Tautua'a and Maddie Lenn, who knocked down seven kills apiece, while Erin Gillcrist and Victoria O'Sullivan finished with six apiece.
Tautua'a also excelled on defense, recording three solo blocks, while Serena Hodson added three block assists. In addition, Lauren Lee anchored the back row with a match-high 15 digs, marking the seventh time in matches she reached double figures in that category.
The Aztecs also split the setting duties against Wyoming, with Kennedy Feuerborn dishing out 19 assists, while Ashley Vanderpan handed out 17.
SDSU found itself in pursuit mode for most of the first set, facing a series of early five-point deficits, including a 15-10 spread following a kill by the Cowgirls' Hailey Zuroske.
The Aztecs responded with a 5-2 spurt, capped by two Blair put-aways; however, Wyoming tallied five straight points to short-circuit the comeback attempt. Emersen Cyza punctuated the run with two kills, while Faith Waitsman added a solo block, helping the hosts fashion a 22-15 bulge. SDSU could draw no closer than five points the rest of the way, as a Cyza service ace secured the set.
The Aztecs appeared to turn the tables in the second stanza, building a trio of four-point leads, including a 14-10 advantage following a combined block by Hodson and Lenn. However, the Cowgirls answered with a 7-1 surge, highlighted by three Zuroske kills and another by Waitsman, while SDSU committed three attack errors during that span.
With momentum on its side, Wyoming stretched the margin to four points on two occasions, reaching set point at 24-20 after another Zuroske non-returnable.
However, the Aztecs displayed their resolve, scoring four quick points, as Lenn blasted a kill, while Tautau'a followed shortly thereafter with a solo block. Moments later, Feuerborn joined forces with Hodson on another a stuff at the net before adding a kill, which prompted a Wyoming timeout.
After the break, SDSU was unable to maintain the intensity, committing attack errors on the final two serves, which provided the Cowgirls a commanding 2-0 edge in sets.
Stung, the Aztecs went back to work in the third frame, as the two sides combined for 12 ties and three lead changes. Both teams totaled 14 kills apiece during the set, including three each by Lenn and Blair. However, Wyoming notched just two errant attacks, compared to five for SDSU. Cyza launched five put-aways on six swings with no errors to keep the Scarlet and Black at bay.
With the score knotted at 18-18, the Cowgirls went ahead to stay on a Jackie McBride kill, while Zuroske and Waitsman combined on a block to ignite a 7-4 closing run.
Cyza was a one-person wrecking crew for Wyoming, finishing with a .567 hitting percentage on a match-high 18 kills with just one error in 30 attempts, while McBride (two solo blocks) collected eight put-aways of her own, followed by Zuroske's seven. In addition, Abby Olsen led all players with 35 assists.
San Diego State wraps up its road trip on Saturday when it tangles with the Cowgirls once again, starting at noon MT/11 a.m. PT.
Aztecs Drop Tough Three-Setter at Wyoming
