LONG BEACH, Calif. – The San Diego State volleyball team opened its six-match road swing on a sour note Tuesday with a hard-fought loss in three sets (23-25, 19-25, 23-25) to Long Beach State at Walter Pyramid.
Despite maintaining the statistical edge in team blocks (8.0 to 5.0), the Aztecs (1-8) suffered their fifth straight defeat after mustering just 29 kills for the night. SDSU was unable to capitalize on 13 errant serves by the Beach, committing 14 attack errors on 95 attempts for a .158 hitting percentage.
Conversely, LBSU (5-5) knocked down 50 kills with a .309 efficiency while owning a 44-39 advantage in digs to help snap a three-match losing streak to the Aztecs.
SDSU was paced by Zoi Faki's eight kills, while Heipua Tautua'a and Reagan Merk launched five put-aways apiece. In addition, Natalie Smith led all players with 14 digs, while Jordyn Goldsmith made her first collegiate start a memorable one with a match-high four blocks, including a solo stop. The Aztec cause was also aided by Noa Miller (10 assists) and Kennedy Feuerborn (3 kills, 7 assists), who split the setting duties, while Mikela Labno served up two aces.
However, San Diego State could not contain the tandem of Kashauna Williams and Katie Kennedy, who combined for 34 of the Beach's 50 kills. Williams blasted 19 non-returnables and finished with a .361 clip, while Kennedy collected 15 kills of her own and hit .522 for the match, committing just three errors on 23 swings. LBSU's fortunes were also lifted by Tia Chavira's 40 assists, while Erykah Lovett fell just shy of a double-double after posting eight kills and 11 digs.
The teams battled through 12 ties and three lead changes in a highly competitive opening set, where the Aztecs benefited from six services errors and four wayward attacks by the Beach. In addition, Labno, Smith, Miller and Brooklynn Hill each contributed an ace, as the visitors forged a pair of two-point leads late in the frame. A Tautua'a kill gave the Scarlet and Black a 23-21 advantage; however, LBSU answered with four straight tallies to escape with the set.
After an Aztec service error, Chavira combined with Miranda Canez on a block, while Williams followed with consecutive kills to provide the clinching points. Williams totaled nine of the Beach's 14 kills in the set, where the host school logged a .323 efficiency.
The second stanza witnessed four ties in the early going, including an 11-11 deadlock after three straight LBSU attack errors. However, the Beach quickly vaulted in front for good, utilizing a 14-8 closing run to keep SDSU at bay. Williams came up with three put-aways during that stretch, while Kennedy floored two shots of her own. In addition, Lovett served up an ace and joined forces with Kameron Bacon. On the flip side, Faki launched five kills in the frame, but little help came elsewhere, as the Aztecs finished with just eight in the entire set.
San Diego State found itself in pursuit mode for the entire third set after falling behind 6-1. The Beach built a series of seven-point leads, including a 23-16 spread following a Lovett kill. The Aztecs would not go quietly, however, after narrowing the gap to 24-23, thanks to a late 7-1 blitz. Merk provided instant offense with three kills during the run, while Labno contributed an ace and joined forces with Goldsmith on a block. Tautua'a also teamed with Julia Haynie on a stop, but Kennedy's kill dashed SDSU's hopes of extending the match.
San Diego State closes out its non-conference schedule this weekend when it travels to the desert for the Wildcat Classic, Sept. 17-18, in Tucson, Arizona. The Aztecs will face Texas Southern and Arizona on Friday before wrapping up the tournament against UC Riverside on Saturday.