SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State embarks on its first road trip of the new season this weekend when it travels up the coast for the 24th annual Pepperdine ASICS Classic in Malibu, California. The Aztecs open tournament play on Friday, Sept. 2, they lock horns with No. 9 Baylor in a late afternoon clash, starting at 4 p.m. PT. On Saturday, Sept. 3, SDSU will square off against two additional opponents, battling host Pepperdine at noon. PT, followed by a showdown with UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m.
Live stats and live video streaming will be available throughout the weekend. Links to both platforms can be accessed on this page.
SERIES RECORD VS. BAYLOR
> The Aztecs have faced the Bears three times in program history, maintaining a 2-1 edge in a series dating back to 1992.
> The teams last met at the Baylor Classic on Sept. 6, 2008, when the Bears claimed a 3-0 sweep in Waco, Texas.
> San Diego State earned two victories over Baylor prior to the rally scoring era, posting a 3-0 triumph (15-4, 15-8, 15-6) at the Aztecs' own ASICS Grand Prix in 1992, followed by a 3-2 thriller (15-5, 15-4, 13-15, 13-15, 15-11) at the Michigan State Goff Volleyball Classic in 1995.
> The Aztecs are 26-20 against the nine current members of the Big 12 Conference that sponsor women's volleyball after dropping a four-set decision to Kansas State at the UCSB Gaucho Invitational last season.
> Baylor, which climbed into the No. 9 position in the first AVCA Coaches Poll of the regular season, represents the first ranked team SDSU will face this year. The Aztecs played three ranked teams during the 2021 campaign, falling to No. 17 Pepperdine, No. 16 UCLA and No. 25 San Diego.
SERIES RECORD VS. PEPPERDINE
> After a 20-year hiatus in the all-time series, the Aztecs and Waves will square off for the second straight season, with the Scarlet and Black holding a slim 21-20 advantage in 41 previous encounters
> SDSU came up on the short end against Pepperdine last year at the UCSB Gaucho Invitational, falling in four sets to the then-No. 21 Waves (19-25, 15-25, 25-21, 18-25).
> In that match, Mikela Labno hit .522 for the day, blasting a season-high 15 kills on 22 attempts with just one error, while Julia Haynie and Sara Mukaj both finished with four block assists.
> The Aztecs have not faced Pepperdine in a true road match since 2001 and are 5-10 in Malibu all-time, picking up their last victory there in 1992.
> Pepperdine is just one of three current teams in the West Coast Conference that the Aztecs have a winning record against, joining San Francisco (6-2) and Gonzaga (2-1).
SERIES RECORD VS. UC SANTA BARBARA
> San Diego State has won three straight vs. the Gauchos to build a 24-20 advantage in 44 all-time meetings dating back to 1978.
> The Aztecs rolled to a 3-0 triumph (25-20, 25-19, 25-15) at UCSB last year in their opening match of the Gaucho Invitational.
> In that contest, SDSU maintained the upper hand in most statistical categories, including hitting percentage (.384 to .189), kills (49-39), assists (46-36) and digs (45-33) to help key its victory. Among Aztec returners, Heipua Tautua'a hit .409 after collecting 11 kills, while Labno finished with seven put-aways of her own.
> SDSU is 8-2 vs. UC Santa Barbara on a neutral court in program history, including a three-set victory in the 1981 NCAA West Regionals in Provo, Utah, which clinched a spot for the Scarlet and Black in the Final Four.
> The Aztecs are 167-111 against current Big West schools in program history after posting a 3-1 decision over UC San Diego at home on Aug. 27.
TOURNAMENT CONNECTIONS
> UCSB defensive specialist Camryn Jones and SDSU libero Ellie Geoghegan both attended Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California. Jones graduated two years ahead of Geoghegan in 2020.
> Pepperdine assistant coach Blossom Sato is the daughter of Aztec Hall-of-Famer Liane Sato, who earned AVCA all-region honors at SDSU in 1986 before competing for the USA National Team at the Summer Olympics in 1988 and 1992.
> Baylor freshman setter Brianna Denney hails from San Marcos, California, and attended Santa Fe Christian School.
> UCSB libero Macall Peed and defensive specialist Jazmin Nason both prepped at San Diego area high schools. Peed graduated from Torrey Pines High, while Nason is a San Marcos High alumna.
SDSU IN MOUNTAIN WEST RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Noa Miller leads the conference in service aces (0.91/set), while Elly Schraeder ranks fourth in blocks (1.36/set).
> Miller's six service aces were the most by an Aztec player since Ashlynn Dunbar served up six of her own vs. Colorado State on Sept. 27, 2018. Dunbar also finished with seven service aces against CSU Bakersfield in the 2018 season opener.
> Meanwhile, Schraeder's nine total blocks were the most by an SDSU competitor since Lexie Hamrick's 11 rejections vs. UTEP on Sept. 15, 2018.
> As a team, the Aztecs rank second in the conference in service aces (1.91/set) while occupying the fifth spot in kills (13.55/set), assists (12.55/set), blocks (2.55/set) and opponent hitting percentage (.172).
> In addition, SDSU has landed in the eighth spot this week in hitting percentage (.198) and digs (12.36/set).
NEWCOMERS SHINE
> Seven of eight Aztec newcomers saw action for the Scarlet and Black last weekend, with several providing key contributions at the SDSU Invitational.
> Freshman outside hitter Madison Corf blasted a team season-high 15 kills in the Aztecs' triumph over UC San Diego, finishing with a .303 efficiency to go with a pair of blocks, including a solo stuff. A former AVCA Prep All-American from Kansas City, Missouri, Corf ranks third on the squad with 2.40 kills per set after earning starts vs. Cal and UCSD.
> Freshman McKenna Douglas cracked the starting lineup in all three matches at libero and currently tops the squad with 3.45 digs per set. The Phoenix, Arizona, native finished with a match-high 19 digs against UC San Diego after posting 14 scoops earlier in the day vs. Army West Point. She has also contributed 10 setting assists and a pair of aces so far this year.
> Sophomore middle blocker Elly Schraeder impressed in her Aztec debut, averaging a team-best 1.36 blocks per set while posting the highest efficiency on the squad with a .342 attack percentage. The USD transfer flashed her versatility against Army West Point, logging nine blocks, including a solo stuff, while hitting .375 on eight kills in 16 swings with just two errors.
> Senior transfer Kayla Rivera started all three matches at the SDSU Invite and the ranks second on the Aztecs with 1.18 blocks per set. The former Georgia opposite hitter set a personal best with seven block assists against Army West Point and followed that effort with a season-high 10 kills vs. UCSD.
> Freshman middle blocker Kat Cooper enjoyed a breakout performance against UC San Diego, when she hit .600 on seven kills in 10 attempts against just one error while adding five blocks (1 solo) and five digs. A former AVCA Prep All-American from Arkansas, Cooper cracked the starting lineup in all three matches and recorded five additional blocks (1 solo) vs. Army West Point.
> Freshman setter Sarena Gonzalez averaged 5.89 assists across nine sets in three matches to go with nine digs and a pair of service aces. The Temecula product dished out a season-high 30 helpers vs. UCSD in her second start of the year after earning the same nod against Cal.
> Freshman defensive specialist Ellie Geoghegan made her first collegiate start a memorable one, posting seven digs, two service aces and a pair of setting assists in the Aztecs' 3-1 triumph over Army West Point. The Manhattan Beach product played in all 11 sets last weekend, finishing with an average of 1.45 digs.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Despite splitting two matches last weekend in the season-opening Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge at Fort Worth, Texas, Baylor (1-1) moved up seven places from the 16th spot to the No. 9 position in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll released on Aug. 29. The Bears dropped a 3-1 decision to fifth-ranked Minnesota before outlasting defending national champion and No. 3 Wisconsin in a five-set thriller. Freshman setter Averi Carlson garnered Big 12 Rookie of the Week accolades after combining for 78 assists against the Gophers and Badgers, joining senior outside hitter Lauren Harrison on the Challenge's all-tournament team. Harrison averaged 4.00 kills (36 overall) last weekend, which ranks third in the conference, while Carlson (8.67 assists/set) and senior middle blocker Kara McGhee (1.22 blocks/set) occupy the eighth spot in their respective statistical categories. Along the back row, sophomore Lauren Briseño leads Baylor with 2.44 digs per set (22 overall), while senior middle blocker Mallory Talbert tops the squad with a .324 hitting percentage (15-3-37). With just two matches in hand and a lack of gaudy statistics, the Bears find themselves in the bottom half of the Big 12 in several categories entering the week, including digs (7th, 10.56/set), blocks (7th, 2.00/set), hitting percentage (7th, .184), kills (8th,11.78/set), opponent blocks (8th, 3.00/set) and opponent hitting percentage (8th, .267). Before Friday's clash with the Aztecs, however, Baylor will battle Pepperdine in its tournament opener on Thursday. Last season, the Bears finished with a No. 10 final AVCA ranking after posting a 22-6 overall record, capped by a loss to Minnesota in the NCAA Sweet 16. Baylor was pegged for a second-place finish in the Big 12 preseason coaches poll, while Harrison and McGhee received preseason all-conference recognition. Not to be outdone, Carlson was tabbed the preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year, marking the first time a Bears player merited such distinction. Now in his eighth year, head coach Ryan McGuyre has led Baylor to six consecutive postseason appearances, amassing a 154-56 record, including a Big 12 Championship in 2019. For his efforts, McGuyre was named the AVCA National Coach of the Year that season.
> Pepperdine (2-1) is receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll after posting a 2-1 record last weekend at the Ameritas Players Challenge in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Waves defeated Tulsa (3-1) and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (3-0) but was unable to replicate the feat against top-ranked Nebraska, which rolled to a three-set sweep. Offensively, Pepperdine has been paced by outside hitters Grace Chillingworth and Emily Hellmuth, who share the team lead in kills (2.70/set, 27 overall), along with middle blocker Meg Brown who tops the squad with a .355 hitting percentage. At the net, the Waves boast one of the country's best in middle blocker Vanessa Polk, who enters the weekend in a tie for third nationally with 23 total blocks (2.30/set), including five solo stops. Along the back row, senior Riley Patterson occupies the second spot in the West Coast Conference with 4.00 digs per set, while at the setter position, Isabel Zelaya ranks fourth with an average of 9.60 assists per set. Collectively, the Waves top the WCC in several categories as of Sept. 1, including blocks (3.60/set) and digs (17.10/set), which rank fifth and 24th in the country, respectively. In addition, the squad remains perched atop the conference in attacks (39.00/set) and assists (12.0/set). However, the Waves find themselves in the WCC's fifth slot in kills (12.70/set) while ranking ninth in hitting percentage (.156). Pepperdine alumnus Scott Wong is entering his seventh season in charge of the Waves, compiling a 127-77 overall record on the Malibu campus. During his tenure, Wong has guided Pepperdine to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths in 2018 and 2020, advancing to the second round in both appearances. Prior to his current position, Wong served as associate head coach at Hawai'i from 2010-14, doubling as the Rainbow Wahine's sand volleyball head coach. He also spent time as an assistant for the Pepperdine men's program (2005-09), contributing to the Waves' national championship run in 2005. As a player at Pepperdine, Wong garnered All-America accolades on three occasions between 1998 and 2001.
> Picked to finish second in the Big West preseason coaches poll, UC Santa Barbara (0-3) came up empty in its inaugural tournament of the season in the Rockies last weekend, falling to co-hosts Northern Colorado and Colorado State by identical 3-1 scores, sandwiched around a 3-0 sweep at the hands of North Carolina. Middle blocker Deni Wilson, a preseason all-Big West selection returns for her senior season after garnering first-team all-conference accolades in 2021 to go with AVCA all-region honors. In addition, reigning Big West Freshman of the Year Michelle Ohwobete is back in the mix at the libero position. Entering the Pepperdine ASICS Classic, the Gauchos have been led on offense by junior Tasia Farmer, who is hitting .295 and averaging 2.70 kills per set, followed closely by Wilson (2.18/set) and fellow right-side hitter, senior Tallulah Froley (2.18/set). At the net, sophomore middle blocker Niableu Correal (1.30/set) and Wilson (1.18/set) top the squad in blocks, which rank fourth and sixth in the Big West, respectively, while Ohwobete is averaging a team-high 2.82 digs per set. Meanwhile, senior Megan Shimoda (5.64 assists/set) and sophomore Grace McIntosh (4.40 assists/set) have split the setting duties after three matches. Collectively, UCSB ranks third in the conference in blocks (2.91/set), fourth in service aces (1.45/set) and fifth in hitting percentage (.211). However, the Gauchos occupy the seventh spot in kills (11.73/set) and rank ninth in opponent hitting percentage (.270). UCSB is under the guidance of head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch, who is entering her ninth season with the Gauchos, highlighted by a trio of postseason appearances in 2013, 2018 (NIVC) and 2019. A native of Encinitas, Lantagne Welch earned Big West Coach of the Year honors in her first season on the Isla Vista campus in 2013 after spending the previous 12 years at Miami (Fla.). Her career record stands at 367-229, including a 124-109 mark at UCSB. As a collegiate player, Lantagne Welch was a standout setter at Maryland from 1990-93, earning all-ACC recognition on three occasions.
ON THE HORIZON
> Following the Pepperdine ASICS Classic, San Diego State will play seven straight matches in "America's Finest City", including its second home tournament – the Aztec Classic – next weekend. On Friday, Sept. 9, SDSU will battle Maryland in a matinee, starting at 10 a.m. PT, before engaging Arizona later that evening at 7 p.m. The Aztecs then close out the event with a clash against Sacramento State on Saturday, Sept. 10, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Aztecs Set for Three Matches at Pepperdine Tourney
