SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team ended its 2021 season on a sour note Saturday, falling in three sets to visiting San José State (21-25, 23-25, 15-25) in a Mountain West match inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
The Aztecs (8-22, 5-13 MW) were limited to a .054 hitting percentage, knocking down just 29 kills against 23 errors on 112 attempts while trailing in team blocks (9.0 to 6.0) en route to their third straight defeat to SJSU.
The Spartans (19-9, 13-5 MW) held SDSU's main offensive threat in check, as Victoria O'Sullivan finished with only six kills, snapping her streak of double-digit put-aways at 13 matches. In addition, the Aztecs received four kills apiece from Zoi Faki, Heipua Tautua'a, Andrea Walker and Kennedy Feuerborn, while Natalie Smith tied for match-high honors with 11 digs and two service aces.
Faki also contributed to SDSU's defensive efforts with 10 scoops of her own, while Walker posted a team-high five block assists. Elsewhere, Ashley Vanderpan (12 assists) and Feuerborn (10 assists) shared the setting duties for the seventh match in a row, with the latter recording three block assists.
Conversely, the Spartans (19-9, 13-5 MW) were paced by the two-pronged attack of Letizia Cammillucci (.423) and Haylee Nelson, who tied for match-high honors with 13 kills, while Latahevai Lousi led all players with seven block assists. Cammillucci completed a double-double after racking up 11 digs, matching the total of teammate Sarah Smevog and the Aztecs' Smith.
Not to be outdone, Ryann Thomison (.444) got into the act with nine kills and five block assists, while Mia Schafter dished out 38 assists.
Despite an inconsistent attack, SDSU played inspired volleyball over the first two sets, as the teams combined for 25 ties and 12 lead changes in that span.
In the opening frame, the Aztecs rallied from a trio of four-point deficits, including a 10-6 spread following a Thomison put-away. However, SDSU responded with five straight points, capped by a Walker kill, which put the host school in front. The teams traded proverbial punches for the balance of the set, as neither side gained much separation until the latter stages.
With the score knotted at 20-20, Lousi joined forces with Madeline Boestra and Thomison on consecutive blocks to take the lead for good, which prompted an Aztec timeout. SDSU pulled to within one after a Spartan service error, but the visitors scored three straight points to escape with the set. Lousi and Thomison each floored a shot, while the Aztecs committed an attack error on the final serve.
Unfazed, the Aztecs went back to work in the second stanza, racing to a 6-1 lead following a combined block by Feuerborn and Julia Haynie along with an SJSU attack error. The Spartans fought themselves off the ropes with an 11-3 blitz, highlighted by three Cammillucci kills and two others by Schafer.
Trailing 12-9, SDSU answered with a 5-1 spurt to reclaim a 14-13 advantage, as Walker blasted a pair of kills, while Feuerborn, Mikela Labno and Reagan Merk each floored a shot. Shortly thereafter, it was San José State's turn to rally, and the Spartans did just that, crafting a 7-3 spurt to build a 20-17 bulge. Boestra took charge during the run, launching a kill, serving up an ace and combining with Lousi on a block. In addition, SJSU benefited from two other Aztec attack errors.
Stung, SDSU pulled itself off the mat with a 6-2 surge, punctuated by a Merk service ace, to inch in front 23-22. The Aztecs also received kills by Merk, Tautua'a and Walker during that stretch, with the latter two joining forces on a block as well. However, the Scarlet and Black imploded at this juncture, committing three straight attack errors to let the Spartans off the hook.
Save for a Faki service ace to open the third set, SDSU stumbled the rest of the day, mustering only seven kills against seven errors in the final stanza. On the flip side, the Spartans recorded their highest hitting percentage of the match with a .444 clip, collecting 15 kills on 27 swings with just three miscues. Nelson posted six of her put-aways in the frame, including three in the early going to help the visitors build a 15-7 lead they would not relinquish.
With the win, SJSU clinched the No. 3 seed in next week's MW Championship and will face sixth-seeded Boise State in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Nov. 24 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Prior to Saturday's match, San Diego State held a special ceremony to honor Zoi Faki, Natalie Smith, Brooklynn Hill, Ashley Vanderpan, Serena Hodson, Victoria O'Sullivan and Andrea Walker to highlight Senior Day festivities.