SAN DIEGO – Playing its first home match in nearly three weeks, the San Diego State volleyball team dropped a four-set decision to New Mexico (20-25, 20-25, 25-16, 21-25) in a Mountain West clash Thursday inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
Despite a stellar defensive effort in which the Aztecs maintained the upper hand in team blocks (10.0 to 7.0) and digs (42-33), SDSU saw its eight-match winning streak vs. the Lobos snapped.
The Aztecs were victimized by 10 service aces and hit just .168 for the night, slipping to 4-11 on the season and 1-2 in conference play. UNM did not fare much better, posting a .171 efficiency. However, the Lobos (12-2, 3-0 MW) held a slight edge in kills (45-43) to help maintain their share of first place in the MW standings.
Individually, SDSU was paced by Victoria O'Sullivan and Heipua Tautua'a, who collected eight kills apiece, while Mikela Labno launched eight non-returnables of her own and hit .400 for the match. In addition, Andrea Walker finished with a .455 clip, knocking down seven kills with two miscues in 11 attempts while tying for match-high honors with a season-best six block assists.
Not to be outdone, Jordyn Goldsmith posted a .556 efficiency, blasting six kills with just one error on nine swings, while Noa Miller tied her season-high with 28 assists to lead all players. Natalie Smith got into the act as well with a match-high 13 digs, while O'Sullivan tied her personal-best with seven scoops.
O'Sullivan also served up a career-high three aces on consecutive serves in the opening set, which gave the Scarlet and Black a 7-4 advantage. However, UNM responded with an 8-0 blitz to take the lead for good. Kali Wolf turned the tables with three aces of her own during that stretch, while Uxue Guereca knocked down a kill.
Moments later, SDSU cut the margin to 12-10 after Labno floored a shot, but the host school could draw no closer. Guereca followed with two more kills and joined forces with Emma Smith on a block to key a 4-0 spurt that gave the visitors some added separation at 16-10. UNM eventually extended the margin to eight at 20-12 on a Kaitlynn Biassou kill.
A late 8-4 run by the Aztecs trimmed the deficit to 24-20 capped by a Tautua'a solo block and a Labno put-away. However, the surge proved too little too late as a Wolf kill secured the set for UNM.
Despite recording more kills in the second stanza (12-10), SDSU shot itself in the proverbial foot with 10 attack errors, while the Lobos committed just five miscues while logging three team blocks and a pair of aces to help duplicate their score.
Once again, the Aztecs grabbed the early advantage at 6-4, thanks in part to a pair of kills by O'Sullivan and one apiece by Goldsmith and Tautua'a. However, UNM capitalized on two SDSU attack errors while Wolf served up another ace to put the visitors in front for good.
The Scarlet and Black found itself in pursuit mode for the rest of the set but remained within striking distance. The Aztecs narrowed the gap to 20-18 following a Labno kill and a Lobo attack error but could not seize control, as UNM used a 5-2 closing run to keep the hosts at bay. Biassou notched two kills in that span, including the clincher, while Wolf added another.
Stung, SDSU responded with its best hitting percentage of the night in the third set, blasting 12 kills on 22 attempts with just four errors for a .364 efficiency. On the flip side, the Aztecs limited their adversaries to a minus-.100 clip, as the Lobos mustered only six kills in the frame against nine miscues on 30 swings. Tautua'a led SDSU with four kills in the set, while Walker came up with three block assists down the stretch.
Save for a pair of ties, the Aztecs led throughout but could not completely put UNM in their rearview mirror, as a Guereca kill tightened the score at 15-13. However, SDSU display a strong finishing kick, crafting a 10-3 closing run to keep their comeback hopes alive. Walker combined with Labno, O'Sullivan and Kalani Ruri on a trio blocks to highlight the outburst, with Labno providing a solo stop as well.
O'Sullivan and Walker later supplied three kills apiece in the fourth set, as the Aztecs fought valiantly to extend the match. However, Biassou and Guereca ultimately proved to be too much to handle, as the UNM duo registered four kills each to offset the SDSU momentum.
The Lobos built a series of four-point leads, including a 15-11 spread following a kill by Emma Smith. Shortly thereafter, the Aztecs regrouped and eventually tied the score at 17-17 on a floored shot by Ruri. However, Guereca followed with a kill and joined forces with Smith on a block, while Avital Jaloba served up an ace to give UNM a lead it would not relinquish at 20-17.
SDSU threw in one last scare, cutting margin to 22-21 after an O'Sullivan kill and a combined block from Tautua'a and Goldsmith, before running out of steam. Biassou notched two kills down the stretch sandwich around an Aztec attack error.
Biassou led all players with 13 kills, while Wolf (4 aces) and Guereca (.526) finished with 11 put-aways apiece. In addition, Melissa Walden racked up a double-double in the victory with 27 assists and 10 digs, while Emma Smith tied SDSU's Walker with six block assists.
San Diego State continues its homestand on Saturday, Oct. 2, when it plays host to Air Force, starting at 1 p.m. PT.