SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State volleyball program opens its 24th season of Mountain West competition this weekend when it plays host to San José State and Nevada.
The Aztecs will square off against the Spartans on Thursday, Sept. 22, beginning at 7 p.m. PT before battling the Wolf Pack on Saturday, Sept. 24, starting at 1 p.m.
Live stats will be available for both matches, while Thursday's encounter vs. SJSU features a live video stream via the Mountain West Network on GoAztecs.com.
SDSU has compiled a 180-191 record in MW competition since the league's inception in 1999. However, The Aztecs are 249-180 in program history against teams in the current conference alignment thanks in part to renewed rivalries with Fresno State and San José State.
SDSU is 12-11 all-time in Mountain West openers after defeating Nevada on the road in three sets last year.
The Aztecs will play 18 conference matches, including home-and-away contests against eight league rivals while facing Air Force and New Mexico just once.
SERIES RECORD VS. SAN JOSÉ STATE
> Despite dropping two matches to the Spartans last season, SDSU still leads the all-time series 22-15 in 37 varsity meetings since 1977.
> The Aztecs sport a 12-5 record against SJSU in San Diego, a 7-10 mark in San Jose and a 3-0 ledger on a neutral court.
> Since San José State joined the Mountain West in 2013, SDSU is 7-8 against the Spartans, including a 4-3 mark in San Diego.
> SJSU spoiled the Aztecs' Senior Day festivities the last time it visited Peterson Gym on Nov. 20, 2021, as the Scarlet and Black dropped a three-set decision (21-25, 23-25, 15-25).
> In that contest, the Aztecs 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 the Spartans.
> In the previous meeting at San José State on Sept. 25, 2021, SDSU was also dealt a three-set defeat (20-25, 21-25, 16-25) in a match that featured 26 ties and 11 lead changes. However, the Aztecs were out-hit .412 to .256, as the Spartans committed just eight attack errors for the day.
> Among SDSU returners in that match, Jordyn Goldsmith blasted nine kills on 18 attempts with just two errors for a .389 efficiency, while Mikela Labno launched seven non-returnables of her own.
> The Aztecs return to the Bay Area for their rematch vs. San José State on Saturday, Nov. 19 in the regular-season finale for both squads.
SERIES RECORD VS. NEVADA
> The Aztecs sport a 13-6 record against the Wolf Pack in 19 all-time meetings dating back to 2011.
> SDSU has won the last two encounters against Nevada after posting a pair of three-set sweeps during the 2021 campaign.
> The Aztecs emerged triumphant over the Wolf Pack in their conference opener last season in Reno, posting winning set scores of 29-27, 25-17, 25-20 to snap a three-match losing streak in the head-to-head series.
> Among SDSU returners, Julia Haynie finished with a .429 hitting percentage in that contest, knocking down eight kills in 14 attempts with two errors while contributing five block assists. In addition, Heipua Tautua'a flashed her versatility with seven kills, 11 digs and a pair of service aces, while Noa Miller dished out a team-high 19 assists.
> The Aztecs survived a grueling opening set, where the two teams combined for 16 ties and seven lead changes, before the Scarlet and Black pulled away in the final two frames. SDSU limited the Wolf Pack to a minus-.029 hitting percentage over those final two sets.
> In the penultimate match of the 2021 regular season, Nevada made a return trip to "America's Finest City", but the Aztecs prevailed, 25-18, 25-18, 25-21.
> As a team, SDSU logged its fourth-best hitting percentage of the year in that encounter with a .323 clip while maintaining the statistical advantage in kills (45-37), digs (40-34) and team blocks (7.0 to 5.0).
> Individually, Tautua'a tied for match-high honors with 11 digs, while Haynie recorded five kills, three blocks, including a solo stuff, to go with a pair of aces. Not to be outdone, Kennedy Feuerborn handed out a team-high 20 assists and set a collegiate best with five block assists.
> The Aztecs will travel to Reno for their rematch against the Wolf Pack on Thursday, Nov. 17.
MATCH CONNECTIONS
> San José State sports three players who prepped at San Diego County high schools in setter Mia Schafer along with middle blockers Yazmin Pitpit and Allyson Alden. Schafer graduated from La Costa Canyon High; Pitpit is an alumna of Scripps Ranch High, while Alden attended San Marcos High.
> Spartan libero Alessia Buffagni and SDSU middle blocker Sara Mukaj hail from the Italian province of Modena.
> Nevada setter Andrea Alcaraz was a four-year letterwinner at Poway High School.
> Wolf Pack outside hitter/opposite hitter Nicanora Clarke and Aztec outside hitter Heipua Tautua'a both attended Wai'anae High School in Hawai'i.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Noa Miller ranks ninth in the conference in services aces (0.39/set).
> Miller's six service aces against UC San Diego is tied for the second-highest total in the Mountain West this season and marks the most by an SDSU 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.
> Kayla Rivera's .647 hitting percentage (12-1-17) vs. Pepperdine on Sept. 3 is tied for the third-best efficiency in the conference this season.
> Ellie Geoghegan's 23 digs vs. Sacramento State on Sept. 10 is tied for fourth-highest total in a five-set match in the league this year.
> Meanwhile, Elly Schraeder's nine overall blocks vs. Army West Point is tied for the fifth-best figure in the MW this year and represents the most by an SDSU competitor since Lexie Hamrick's 11 rejections vs. UTEP on Sept. 15, 2018.
> Collectively, the Aztecs' 14 team blocks in that match against Army is tied for the fourth-highest total in the conference.
> In addition, SDSU's 67 kills vs. Sacramento State is tied for the seventh-best total in the league this season.
NEWCOMERS SHINE
> Seven of eight Aztec newcomers have seen action for the Scarlet and Black this season, with several providing key contributions through 11 matches.
> Freshman Madison Corf has started eight of 11 matches and ranks second on the team in kills per set (2.30) and third in overall kills (85). A former AVCA Prep All-American from Kansas City, Missouri, tied two season bests with 15 kills and seven digs in the Scarlet and Black's narrow 3-2 setback to Sacramento State at the Aztec Classic. In SDSU's three-set triumph over UC San Diego, Corf blasted 15 kills and finished with a .303 efficiency to go with a pair of blocks, including a solo stuff. She also reached the double-digit kill plateau with 11 non-returnables vs. No. 9 Baylor at the Pepperdine ASICS Classic before closing the tournament seven digs vs. UC Santa Barbara.
> Freshman defensive specialist Ellie Geoghegan has taken over the team lead with 117 digs overall including 100 in her last seven matches (3.85/set), highlighted by a season-high 23 scoops vs. Sacramento State. The Manhattan Beach product 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. She also has served up five aces in her last two appearances, including three at No. 8 San Diego on Sept. 17.
> A senior transfer from Georgia, Kayla Rivera has started all 11 matches for SDSU and ranks second on the team with 26 total blocks while occupying the fourth spot in kills (2.00/set. The Aztec opposite hitter was named to the all-tournament team at the Pepperdine ASICS Classic after posting 29 kills and a .313 hitting percentage, including a career-best .647 clip (12-1-17) vs. the host Waves. She also established a personal best with seven block assists vs. Army West Point at the SDSU Invitational.
> In her first season on The Mesa after transferring from USD, sophomore middle blocker Elly Schraeder has started all 11 matches for the Scarlet and Black, compiling a team-high 37 blocks (0.95/set). The Athlol, Idaho, native flashed her versatility against Army West Point, logging a career-high nine blocks, including a solo stuff, while hitting .375 on eight kills in 16 swings with just two errors.
> A starter in eight of 10 appearances, freshman middle blocker Kat Cooper is slotted second on the team with 0.64 blocks per set and ranks third with 18 total blocks. A former AVCA Prep All-American, Cooper enjoyed a breakout performance against UC San Diego at the SDSU Invitational when she hit .600 on seven kills in 10 attempts against just one error while adding five blocks (1 solo) and five digs. Earlier that day, the Springdale, Arkansas, native recorded five additional blocks (1 solo) vs. Army West Point.
> Freshman setter Sarena Gonzalez is averaging a team-leading 5.29 assists per set. A starter in eight of 11 matches, the Temecula product has dished at least 20 assists in five appearances, including a season-high 30 helpers vs. UCSD on Aug. 27. In addition, Gonzalez has 33 digs (0.87/set) and six aces (0.16/set) this season, the latter of which ranks fourth on the team. In the fourth set against Maryland at the Aztec Classic, she twirled three aces on consecutive serves.
> Freshman McKenna Douglas has missed the last seven matches after amassing 43 digs (2.87/set) in her first four outings. 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. She has also contributed 14 assists and two aces so far this year.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> San José State (6-4) closed out its non-conference schedule by winning two of three matches at the Trojan Challenge in Los Angeles last weekend. The Spartans swept New Mexico State (25-23, 25-10, 25-10) and defeated Milwaukee (23-25, 14-25, 22-25, 20-25) before falling to host USC (21-25, 15-25, 21-25). Sophomore outside hitter Blaire Fleming earned a spot on the all-tournament team and garnered MW Offensive Player of the Week accolades after racking up 32 kills (3.20/set) and six blocks (0.60/set) in three matches while hitting at a .393 clip. The Aztecs and SJSU have played two common opponents this fall. The Spartans swept Sacramento State on the road and fell in four sets to UCLA at the LMU Tournament, while the Scarlet and Black suffered a 3-2 heartbreaker to the Hornets before dropping a three-set decision to the Bruins, both at home. Individually, San José State is led by senior Amethyst Harper, who ranks eighth in the conference with an average of 3.24 kills per set, while Fleming occupies the ninth and 10th spots in hitting percentage (.318) and kills (3.10/set), respectively. Along the back row, libero Sarah Smevog, a 2021 all-conference honoree, ranks third in the MW with 4.03 digs per set, while middle blocker Jiana Lawson (T-6th, 1.00 blocks/set) and setter Mia Schafer (8th, 6.05 assists/set; 8th, 0.39 aces/set) also find themselves among the league leaders this week. Collectively, the Spartans are perched near the top of the Mountain West in several categories, including kills (2nd, 13.61/set), assists (2nd, 12.74), hitting percentage (3rd, .240) and service aces (4th, 1.68/set). However, SJSU is just seventh in opponent hitting percentage (.220) and ranks eighth in blocks (1.97/set). Head coach Trent Kersten is in his first year at the helm of the Spartan program after spending five years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at TCU from 2015-19. During his tenure with the Horned Frogs staff, Kersten's 2019 recruiting class was ranked fifth in the country by Volleyball Magazine and sixth by Prep Volleyball. Kersten played three seasons at UCLA, where he ranked among the nation's top 15 in hitting percentage (.387) and blocks (1.08/set) as a senior in 2015.
> Nevada (6-5) has already doubled its victory total from last season when it posted a 3-26 overall record and an 0-18 mark in conference play. The Wolf Pack split two matches in Oklahoma last weekend , falling to the host Sooners in three sets (13-25, 19-25, 18-25) before turning the tables with a sweep of Texas Southern (25-21, 25-10, 25-23). Prior to Saturday's clash with the Aztecs, Nevada opens its MW slate at Fresno State on Thursday night. Offensively, the Wolf Pack are led by sixth-year senior Kayla Afoa, who ranks 17th nationally with a conference-leading 4.40 kills per set, followed by freshman and fellow outside hitter Gabby McLaughlin, who is tied for sixth in the conference with 3.55 put-aways per frame. Along the back row, freshman Kia Kaohelaulii tops the MW with 4.70 digs per set, which is tied for 37th in the country. Elsewhere, freshman middle blocker Jordan Schwartz occupies the third spot in the Mountain West in blocks (1.27/set), while senior setter Andrea Alcaraz occupies the third position in assists (9.31/set). As a team, Nevada leads the conference with 17.12 digs per set and a .149 opponent hitting percentage, which rank eighth and 20th in the nation, respectively. However, the Wolf Pack are last in the conference with their own .163 efficiency and rank just eighth in kills (12.17/set). Nevada is coached by Lee Nelson, who is in his eighth season on the Reno campus after spending three years as an assistant at Miami (Fla.) from 2012-14. Prior to his stint with the Hurricanes, Nelson was the associate head coach of the men's program at UC Santa Barbara. His career record stands at 78-126.
ON THE HORIZON
> Following Saturday's match, San Diego State opens a four-match road swing, starting on Tuesday, Sept. 27, when it travels to the Central Valley to battle Fresno State, beginning at 6 p.m. PT. After their clash with the Bulldogs, the Aztecs will leave the Golden State for the first time this season when they head to Las Vegas, Nevada, to face defending NIVC champion UNLV on Saturday, Oct. 1, starting at 1 p.m.
Aztecs Set for MW Openers at Home vs. SJSU, Nevada
