SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team put forth another valiant effort on Saturday against Boise State, but ultimately fell short in four sets (21-25, 25-16, 20-25, 24-26) in a Mountain West showdown inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
The Aztecs (6-18, 3-9MW) had their offense firing on all cylinders as three players finished with double-digit kill totals, including Victoria O'Sullivan, who launched 23 put-aways on 43 shots with just four errors for a .442 efficiency.
Collectively, SDSU posted a greater hitting percentage (.255 to .214) while maintaining the upper hand in kills (63-45) and digs (55-45) but was unable to avoid its fifth straight defeat.
Conversely, the Broncos (17-8, 6-6 MW) kept the Scarlet and Black at bay thanks to a sizable 17.0 to 9.0 advantage in team blocks and a 7-2 edge in aces while benefiting from 26 SDSU attack errors.
In addition to O'Sullivan's heroics, the Aztecs received double-doubles from Heipua Tautua'a (14 kills) and Zoi Faki (12 kills), who scooped up 12 digs apiece, while Andrea Walker tied her career best with seven blocks, including a solo stop. Elsewhere, Natalie Smith tied for match-high honors with 17 digs, while Ashley Vanderpan (26 assists) and Kennedy Feuerborn (23 assists) shared the setting responsibilities.
Trailing 2-1 in sets, SDSU seemed poised to extend the match after forging a 19-15 lead in the fourth frame. The Aztecs faced an earlier 11-10 deficit until crafting a timely 9-4 surge to vault in front. O'Sullivan keyed the run with three kills, while Faki floored two additional shot sand served up an ace.
Boise State remained within striking distance, eventually knotting the score at 22-22 following consecutive put-aways by Lauren Ohlinger. Moments later, O'Sullivan and Ohlinger each knocked down a kill, while the two teams exchanged service errors, leaving the score deadlocked at 24-24. However, the Broncos dashed the Aztecs' comeback hopes in the match, as Ali O'Harra combined with Paige Bartsch on a block, while Ohlinger provided the clinching point with an ace, allowing the visitors to escape with the win.
After dropping the opening set, the Scarlet and Black clamped down in the second stanza, limiting Boise State to a paltry .029 hitting percentage with just six kills against five errors in 34 attempts. Conversely, the Aztecs recorded 18 put-aways in the set, including six by O'Sullivan and another five by Tautua'a.
Save for a 1-1 tie, SDSU led throughout, breaking open a tight 6-4 score with a 15-7 flurry, which gave the hosts a commanding 21-11 advantage, which they never relinquished. Tautua'a recorded all five of her kills in the set during that run, while O'Sullivan collected three.
O'Sullivan (5 kills) and Faki (4 kills) supplying the Aztecs' firepower in the third frame, as the two sides combined for seven ties and three lead changes early on. Clinging to a narrow 7-6 advantage, the Broncos seized control with six straight points, capped by a pair of Jolei Akima service aces, while Alyssa Wissinger registered a kill and joined forces with Ohlinger on a block.
Suddenly trailing 12-7, SDSU pulled to within two on three occasions, including a 17-15 spread following a Boise State attack error. However, the Aztecs' momentum quickly evaporated after a wayward serve and two consecutive ball-handling errors, which extended the Bronco lead to 20-15. SDSU pulled to within 23-20 after a Faki kill, but a service error and an ace by O'Harra iced the set for the visitors.
Boise State was paced by Ohlinger (.364), who finished with 19 kills, six kills and four block assists, while Wissinger (7 kills) led all players with a whopping 11 blocks, including a solo stop. In addition, Danielle Boss contributed a double-double with 38 assists and 13 digs, while Allison Casillas tied the Aztecs' Smith with 14 digs.
San Diego State will have little time to dwell on its defeat, as it prepares to face UNLV on Monday, Nov. 1 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. PT.