SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State opens its 23rd season of Mountain West volleyball competition this weekend when it hits the road to face Nevada and San José State. The Aztecs will square off against the Wolf Pack on Thursday, Sept. 23, beginning at 6 p.m. PT before engaging the Spartans on Saturday, Sept. 25, starting at 1 p.m. In addition to live stats, both contests will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network on GoAztecs.com.
QUICK HITS
> SDSU wrapped up its non-conference slate last weekend by winning two of three matches at the Wildcat Classic in Tucson, Arizona. The Aztecs split two matches on Sept. 17, opening with a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-22, 25-17) of Texas Southern, which snapped a five before suffering the identical fate against host Arizona (20-25, 22-25, 15-25) in the evening. However, the Scarlet and Black took care of business in its tournament finale with three-set whitewash of UC Riverside (25-15, 25-21, 25-19).
> Senior Victoria O'Sullivan ranks sixth in the Mountain West with an average of 3.45 kills per set. The Aztec outside hitter has posted double-digit kills in nine consecutive starts and has surpassed that plateau in 41 of her last 54 appearances dating back to the start of the 2019 campaign.
> SDSU has compiled a 175-178 record in MW competition since the league's inception in 1999. However, The Aztecs are 244-167
in program history against teams in the current conference alignment thanks in part to renewed rivalries with Fresno State and San José State.
> The Aztecs are 11-11 all-time in MW openers and have dropped three out of the last four conference lid-lifters after falling to UNLV in three sets on the road last spring.
> SDSU will play 18 conference matches, including home-and-away contests against eight league rivals while facing Colorado State and Wyoming just once.
SERIES RECORD VS. NEVADA
> San Diego State is 11-6 vs. the Wolf Pack in 17 meetings dating back to 2011.
> However, Nevada has won three straight encounters, including a pair of victories in a weekend series at Aztec Court last spring. SDSU fell short by a 3-1 count in the opener (25-20, 14-25, 20-25, 15-25) before dropping a three-set decision (21-25, 22-25, 13-25) in the finale.
> In that series, the Aztecs were led by Heipua Tautua'a, who stepped into the spotlight with an average of 3.14 kills per set (22 overall) and 2.14 digs per frame, highlighted by a career-high 15 kills in the opener.
> Despite receiving double-digit kills from three players in the first match and maintaining a slight edge in digs (54-53), San Diego State was out-hit (.318 to .194) and trailed in team blocks (13.0-5.0).
> The following day, the Aztec attack was stymied, as Nevada maintained a sizable advantage in hitting percentage (.293 to .080) and team blocks (14.0-5.0).
> SDSU is 3-4 vs. the Wolf Pack in Reno after suffering a 3-1 setback in its last trip to Virginia Street Gym on Sept. 28, 2019. Among this fall's returners, Victoria O'Sullivan tied for team-high honors with 14 kills and finished with three total blocks, including a solo stuff.
SERIES RECORD VS. SAN JOSÉ STATE
> The Aztecs lead the all-time series 22-13 in 35 varsity meetings vs. the Spartans since 1977.
> San Diego State sports a 12-4 record at home vs. SJSU, a 7-9 mark in Silicon Valley and a 3-0 ledger on a neutral court.
> Since San José State joined the Mountain West in 2013, the Aztecs have posted a 7-6 record in 13 meetings against the Spartans,
including a 3-4 mark in San Jose.
> San Diego State faced SJSU just once last spring, suffering a 3-0 setback (18-25, 18-25, 17-25) at Spartan Gym in the penultimate match of the shortened campaign.
> The Aztecs were out-hit .372 to .169 in that contest, as the SJSU maintained a 43-29 advantage in kills and a 6.0 to 4.0 edge in team blocks to help fuel its victory.
> Individually, SDSU was led by Victoria O'Sullivan, who blasted eight kills, while Heipua Tautua'a displayed her versatility with seven put-aways of her own to go with eight digs and a pair of blocks, including a solo stuff.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> As of Sept. 22, libero Natalie Smith climbed to third in the Mountain West with an average of 4.54 digs per set (186 overall).
> In addition, outside hitter Victoria O'Sullivan moved up one spot into the fifth position with 3.45 kills per set, while setter Noa Miller ranks eighth with 5.90 assists per frame.
> Smith's 27 digs vs. Houston Baptist on Aug. 27 is tied for the third-best performance in the conference this season.
> Meanwhile, O'Sullivan's 19 kills vs. San Diego on Sept. 11 are the tied for the fourth-best effort in the league this year, while her 15 put-aways at UC Santa Barbara on Sept. 3 are also tied for the fourth-highest in a three-set match.
> Not to be outdone, the Aztecs own three of the top individual hitting percentages with a minimum of 12 kills in the Mountain West this season. Mikela Labno's .522 clip against (13-1-23) against Pepperdine at the Gaucho Invitational is seventh entering the weekend, while O'Sullivan's .519 efficiency (15-1-27) at UC Santa Barbara in the same tournament and .500 pace (14-1-26) vs. UC Riverside at the Wildcat Classic rank eighth and 10th, respectively.
> Elsewhere, Serena Hodson's eight total blocks at Sam Houston on Aug. 28 is tied for the seventh-best total in the MW thus far, while Sara Mukaj's four service aces the previous day against the same Bearkat squad is tied for eighth.
> Collectively, the Aztecs occupy the fourth spot in the conference with an average of 13.88 digs per set while ranking eighth in team kills (12.10/set) and hitting percentage (.201).
NEWCOMERS MAKING THEIR MARK
> The Aztecs boast 10 newcomers on their 2021 fall roster, with several providing key contributions during the first four weeks of play.
> Senior outside hitter Zoi Faki ranks second on the team with an average of 2.50 kills (80 overall) and 2.25 digs per set (72 overall) while tying for the fourth spot with three service aces. Against Sam Houston on Aug. 28, the Pitt transfer logged her first double-double in an Aztec uniform with 14 kills and 12 digs.
> Fellow classmate Natalie Smith, who received all-tournament recognition at the Bearkat Invitational, ranks fourth in the Mountain West with an average of 4.54 digs per set. In the season opener vs. Houston Baptist, the Michigan transfer posted 27 digs, which is tied for the third-best total in the conference so far this year.
> Freshman Mikela Labno saw her first extended action of the season at the Gaucho Invitational, averaging 2.64 kills in all 11 sets while hitting at a .292 clip. The Aztec outside hitter knocked down a career-high 13 kills against Pepperdine, hitting .522 for the match, which ranks as the sixth-best individual efficiency in the Mountain West thus far. For the season, Labno is tied for third on the squad with 2.00 kills per set. She earned her first career start at Long Beach State on Sept. 14 and scooped up a collegiate-best 13 digs in SDSU's 3-0 sweep of UC Riverside at the Wildcat Classic.
> Arizona State transfer Noa Miller made her San Diego State debut at the Gaucho Invitational and has started the last eight matches, averaging 5.76 assists, which ranks eighth in the Mountain West, to go with 1.62 digs per frame. In her first start for the Aztecs vs. UCSB, Miller dished out 22 assists and scooped up seven digs, helping the Scarlet and Black to its first victory of the season. She also added 25 helpers and another seven digs the following day against Kansas State. Against No. 25 USD on Sept. 11, Miller racked up her first double-double as an Aztec and 12th of her career after posting a season-high 28 assists and 11 digs.
> Freshman Sara Mukaj has started seven of eight matches she has played and leads the Scarlet and Black with 0.81 blocks per set (22 overall). In the first match vs. Sam Houston at the Bearkat Invite on Aug. 27, the Aztec middle blocker served up four aces, which is tied for the eighth-best effort in the MW this year. In the rematch against the Bearkats, Mukaj returned the following day and led the Aztecs with a .636 hitting percentage, launching seven kills on 11 swings without an error to go with five digs and four block assists.
> Another freshman Jordyn Goldsmith received her first starting assignment at Long Beach State on State after coming off the bench in five previous appearances. She ranks seventh on the squad with 1.36 kills per set (34 overall). Against LBSU, the San Diego State opposite hitter led all players with a career-high four blocks, including a solo stop. Against Pepperdine at the Gaucho Invitational on Sept. 4, Goldsmith recorded a season-best .385 hitting percentage, blasting seven kills on 13 swings with just two errors. At the Bearkat Invite the previous week, She also launched seven put-aways to go with a season-best three digs in the weekend finale vs. Sam Houston.
> Former Portland State middle blocker Julia Haynie has started all 11 matches she has played and leads the squad with 25 total blocks while adding 38 kills. The SDSU junior enjoyed a pair of breakout performances at the Wildcat Classic, matching her season highs with six kills and four total blocks in victories over Texas Southern and UC Riverside while posting a .455 hitting percentage, her highest in an Aztec uniform. The Temecula native also knocked down six kills and hit .444 in her Scarlet and Black debut vs. Houston Baptist on Aug. 27. She has multiple block assists in seven of 11 outings this year.
> Freshman outside hitter Reagan Merk has seen extended action in four straight matches, earning her first career start in SDSU's sweep of UC Riverside at the Wildcat Classic, where she tied her career-highs with seven kills and six digs while recording her first three blocks in an Aztec uniform, including a solo stop. The Huntington Beach native also launched seven put-aways and posted six digs the previous day in SDSU's blanking of Texas Southern. Earlier in the week at Long Beach State, Merk knocked down five kills while committing just one error on seven attempts for a sparkling .714 hitting percentage. She also served up aces on her first two collegiate serves in the second set vs. Sam Houston on Aug. 27.
> Likewise, freshman opposite hitter Kalani Ruri made the most of her two appearances at the Wildcat Classic last weekend. The native New Zealander opened the tournament with five kills against Texas Southern, hitting a season-best .556 with no errors on nine swings while adding a pair of block assists, as the Aztecs snapped a five-match losing streak. The following day, Ruri helped SDSU roll to another sweep after posting a season-best seven kills and hit at a .385 clip to go with another pair of block assists.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Nevada won two matches in its home tournament last weekend, defeating both Sacramento State (25-19, 23-25, 25-16, 25-22) and Cal State Northridge (25-19, 25-19, 18-25, 25-23) in three sets. With the victories, the Wolf Pack improved to 3-8. Nevada's only other win was recorded in a narrow 3-0 sweep of San Francisco (25-22, 25-21, 25-23) at the UC Davis Tournament on Sept. 4. The Wolf Pack were picked to finish 11th in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll. Offensively, Nevada has been led by sophomore outside hitter Reka Monteleone, who enters the weekend ranked 10th in the conference with an average of 2.89 kills per set. In addition, the Wolf Pack boast three other players who averaging over two kills per frame, including junior middle blocker Sydney Petersen (2.50), senior right-side hitter Kyla Waiters (2.43) and freshman outside hitter Sia Liilii (2.08). Peterson currently occupies the third spot in conference with a .404 hitting percentage, while senior libero Kalia Spevak (3.89 digs/set) and junior setter Andrea Alcaraz (7.92 assists/set) rank fifth in their respective statistical categories. Alcaraz played prep volleyball in San Diego County at Poway High School. As a team, the Wolf Pack finds itself at the bottom of the league this week with a collective .166 hitting percentage while ranking ninth in kills (11.47/set), digs (12.89/set) and blocks (1.89/set). Nevada is coached by Lee Nelson, who is in his seventh season on the Reno campus after spending three years as an assistant at Miami (Fla.) from 2012-14. Prior to his stint with the Hurricanes, Nelson was the associate head coach of the men's program at UC Santa Barbara. His career record stands at 72-103.
> San José State put the brakes on a three-match slide with a pair of home victories last weekend, sweeping San Francisco (25-14, 25-17, 25-21) before toppling UC San Diego in four sets (23-25, 25-16, 25-13, 25-19). With their results, the Spartans concluded their non-conference slate with a 6-4 record. Prior to Saturday's clash with the Aztecs, SJSU will play host to defending league champion UNLV on Thursday night. Individually, the Spartans have three players among the Mountain West top 10 list in kills this week, by senior outside hitter Latahevai Lousi, who ranks second with 3.80 put-aways per set, followed by junior outside hitter Amethyst Harper (4th, 3.68/set) and senior opposite hitter Haylee Nelson (7th, 3.32/set). In addition, sophomore setter Mia Schafer finds herself atop the conference perch with 11.11 assists per set while ranking third in service aces (0.56/set), followed closely by Nelson, who occupies the fifth spot (0.50/set). Not to be outdone, senior libero Sarah Smevog ranks fourth in the MW this week in digs (4.53/set), just behind SDSU's Natalie Smith. As of Sept. 22, the Spartans lead the league collectively in assists (12.53/set) and service aces (2.24/set) while ranking second in kills (13.50/set) and digs (15.44/set). Elsewhere, SJSU occupies the seventh spot in the MW with a .203 hitting percentage, while opponents have posted a .213 efficiency against the Spartans, which is also seventh in the league. San José State sports three players from San Diego County on its roster, including Schafer (La Costa Canyon HS), sophomore middle blocker Allyson Alden (San Marcos HS) and junior middle blocker Yazmin Pitpit (Scripps Ranch HS). Head coach Trent Kersten is in his first year at the helm of the Spartan program after spending five years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at TCU from 2015-19. During his tenure with the Horned Frogs staff, Kersten's 2019 recruiting class was ranked fifth in the country by Volleyball Magazine and sixth by Prep Volleyball. Kersten played three seasons at UCLA, where he ranked among the nation's top 15 in hitting percentage (.387) and blocks (1.08/set) as a senior in 2015.
CATCH AZTEC VOLLEYBALL ON THE MOUNTAIN WEST NETWORK
> The Mountain West Network is scheduled to stream 19 Aztec volleyball matches during the 2021 fall season. A link to MWN matches will be available on GoAztecs.com.
> SDSU is slated to live stream eight of its nine remaining home matches, including encounters with defending Mountain West champion UNLV (Oct. 5) along with perennial conference contenders Colorado State (Oct. 21) and Boise State (Oct. 30).
> In addition, all nine of the Aztecs' conference road matches are scheduled to be streamed live via the MWN.
ON THE HORIZON
> Following this weekend's matches, San Diego State returns to "America's Finest City" to open a four-match homestand, welcoming New Mexico on Thursday, Sept. 30, before playing host to Air Force on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Aztecs Set for MW Openers on the Road This Week
