SAN DIEGO – The new-look San Diego State volleyball team dropped a narrow decision in three sets (20-25, 23-25, 23-25) to visiting California on Friday as part of its season-opening SDSU Invitational inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
The teams combined for 36 ties and 20 lead changes, as seven of eight Aztec newcomers saw action in the see-saw affair.
Despite maintaining a narrow 38-37 edge in kills and a 7-4 spread in service aces, however, SDSU was plagued by 25 attack errors, posting a .121 hitting percentage on the night.
Conversely, the Golden Bears owned a decisive advantage in team blocks (12.0 to 5.0) and totaled just eight errant attacks, finishing with a .358 efficiency to help key their victory.
Offensively, the Aztecs were led by the trio of Heipua Tautua'a a, Mikela Labno and Madison Corf, who blasted seven kills each, while Kat Cooper (.357) and Kayla Rivera (3 block assists) launched six non-returnables apiece.
In addition, SDSU's fortunes were boosted by Elly Schraeder (.375), who floored five shots of her own and topped the squad with four block assists, while Sarena Gonzalez (16 assists) and Noa Miller (14 assists, 7 digs) shared the setting chores.
However, the Aztecs were unable to contain the exploits of Cal's Lydia Grote, who hit .516 after posting a match-high 19 kills on 31 attempts with three errors while combining on four blocks. The Bears also received six block assists apiece from Mikela Hayden and Sophie Scott, while Tara Desa just missed out on a double-double after leading all players with 15 digs to go with nine assists.
SDSU nursed a precarious 16-15 lead in the opening set following consecutive kills by Cooper, Tautua'a and Labno. However, the Bears countered with three straight points of their own to vault in front for good, as Grote and Scott combined on a block, sandwiched around put-aways by Peyton Dejardin and Leah Schmidt.
The Aztecs kept things close with another kill by Cooper to narrow the gap to 18-17. SDSU was unable to seize the upper hand, however, as Cal fashioned a 7-3 run to close out the set. Grote ignited the surge with three kills and a service ace, while Hayden blasted a kill for the clincher.
The teams witnessed 13 ties and eight lead changes in another tooth-and-nail battle in the second stanza, where the Aztecs found themselves clinging to another slim 17-16 edge. Shortly thereafter, SDSU was looking down the barrel of a 24-21 deficit, thanks to another timely 8-4 run by the Bears. Cal was the beneficiary of two errant attacks and a wayward serve by the Aztecs, while Hayden and Grote knocked down two kills apiece.
SDSU cut the margin to 24-23 following a Bear attack error and a Miller service ace, but the host school could draw no closer, as Grote secured the frame with another kill to give the visitors a 2-0 advantage on the set scoreboard.
The third set was no less dramatic, with the teams combining for another 13 ties and seven lead changes. Both sides totaled nine kills in the stanza, but the Aztecs imploded with 12 attack errors, finishing the set with a minus-.086 efficiency.
Still, SDSU seemed primed to extend the match after grabbing a 21-20 lead following a Labno kill. However, Cal reeled off four quick points to seize the momentum. The Bears were gift three of those tallies on a service error, a bad set and an errant attack, while Grote and Scott once again joined forces on a block.
Cal was forced to call timeout after Labno blasted a kill for the Aztecs, while Annalea Maeder was charged with a ball-handling error. However, the Bears dashed the Scarlet and Black's comeback hopes on Schmidt's clinching put-away.
San Diego State closes out its weekend tournament with two matches on Saturday, battling Army West Point at 11 a.m. PT, followed by a clash with UC San Diego at 7 p.m. The Aztecs-Tritons nightcap will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network.
Aztecs Drop Season Opener to Cal
