SAN DIEGO – San Diego State claimed the opening set against the nation's eighth-ranked team on Saturday but could not sustain the momentum in a four-set loss (25-20, 13-25, 14-25, 12-25) on the road to the University of San Diego at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
The Aztecs (2-9) came out firing on all cylinders, hitting .433 in the first stanza on 15 kills in 30 attempts with just two errors. However, SDSU was stymied for the remainder of the match, compiling a meager .048 attack percentage on a combined 24 kills against 19 errors in 104 swings over the final three frames.
Conversely, the Toreros (9-1), switched on the afterburners in that span, hitting at a torrid .425 clip thanks to a collective 42 kills in 87 attempts with just five miscues.
For the match, USD out-hit the Scarlet and Black .373 to .134, maintaining the statistical advantage in kills (56-39), digs (51-43) and team blocks (8.0 to 6.0) to win their fifth straight and deal the Aztecs their eighth consecutive defeat.
Individually, SDSU was led by Mikela Labno, who powered down 10 kills and hit .450 for the night after committing just one error in 20 attempts, while Madison Corf just missed her first career double-double following a nine-kill, 10-dig performance.
The Aztec cause was also aided by Kayla Rivera, who launched seven kills and finished with a pair of block assists, while Heipua Tautua'a and Kat Cooper (.462) floored six shots apiece and contributed a solo block.
In addition, Sarena Gonzalez (19 assists) and Noa Miller (15 assists) shared the setting responsibilities, while Ellie Geoghegan led the back row with 14 digs to go with three service aces.
However, SDSU was unable to contain the trio of Katie Lukes (19), Breana Edwards (14) and Haylee Stoner (10), who combined for 43 of the Toreros' 56 kills. Stoner hit .600 for the match committing just one error in 15 swings while posting four total blocks, including a solo stop. Not to be outdone, Lukes compiled a .447 hitting percentage, while Edwards finished at a .370, as both players chipped in three total blocks.
Arguably, the Aztecs played their most complete set of the season in the opening frame, as Corf and Labno blasted four kills apiece, while Cooper launched three non-returnables of her own. SDSU raced to a 14-5 lead and was never threatened. Labno came off the bench and sparked the offense with three kills in that stretch after Geoghegan dealt two of her aces. Defensively, Elly Schraeder got into the act as well with a solo block.
A late Torero surge narrowed the gap to 24-20, but it was too little too late thanks to Corf, who launched a kill off a feed from Gonzalez to provide the clincher.
However, SDSU could not replicate the same production in the final three sets, as USD employed timely runs to give themselves separation and keep the Scarlet and Black at bay.
The Aztecs trailed just 7-4 in the second stanza after a Cooper kill, but a 12-5 spurt provided the host school a 19-9 advantage it would not relinquish. Lukes and Edwards each recorded two put-aways in that span, while the Toreros also benefited from a pair of SDSU service errors.
The Aztecs also found themselves within striking distance in the third frame, facing a 9-7 deficit after Labno and Schraeder joined forces on a block. However, USD broke open the tight set with an 11-3 outburst, as the score quickly ballooned to 20-10. Stoner keyed the run with a pair of kills and combined with Lukes on a pair of blocks.
SDSU stumbled out of the gates in the fourth stanza, with the Toreros seizing control thanks to a 7-1 opening run. Lukes knocked down three early kills while Grace Frohling served up an ace, prompting an Aztec timeout. However, the pause did little to stem the tide, as the visitors got no closer than six points the rest of the way.
San Diego State opens its Mountain West schedule with a pair of home matches next week, playing host to San José State on Thursday, Sept. 22, before Nevada invades Aztec Court at Peterson Gym on Saturday, Sept. 24. The Aztecs-Spartans clash is set to begin at 7 p.m. PT, while SDSU's showdown with the Wolf Pack is slated for a 1 p.m. start.
Aztecs Upended at No. 8 USD in Four Sets
