MALIBU, Calif. – The San Diego State volleyball team wrapped up its weekend excursion to the Pepperdine ASICS Classic on a sour note Saturday, dropping a three-set decision to host Pepperdine (18-25, 20-25, 32-34) before suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of UC Santa Barbara (18-25, 18-25, 25-22, 16-25).
In the nightcap against the Gauchos, the Aztecs were stymied in the middle, as UCSB maintained a decisive advantage in team blocks (13.0 to 2.0) while serving up 12 aces compared to SDSU's two. In addition, the Gauchos owned the statistical edge in kills (50-45) and hitting percentage (.310 to .161), capitalizing on 13 Aztec unforced attack errors to help power their victory.
Individually, SDSU (2-4) was paced by Julia Haynie (.474) and Kayla Rivera (.368), who blasted 10 kills apiece, while Reagan Merk tied her career high with seven put-aways. In addition, Ellie Geoghegan anchored the Aztec back row with a season-best 17 digs, while Sarena Gonzalez (21 assists) and Noa Miller (15 assists) split the setting duties.
SDSU found itself in pursuit mode for most of the opening set after the Gauchos (1-5) scored three straight points to break a 4-4 tie. UCSB hit .464 for the frame, knocking down 16 kills on 28 attempts against just three errors. The Gauchos flashed a balanced offense, as Tallulah Froley, Michelle Ohwobete, Nia Correal and Deni Wilson launched three non-returnables apiece.
After the Aztecs pulled to within one at 8-7 on a UCSB attack error, the Gauchos fashioned a 5-1 spurt to take control. SDSU managed to remain within three points on several occasions, including a 16-13 spread following a service error. However, two kills by Correal, who also combined on a block with Tasia Farmer, highlighted a 4-0 run to essentially put the set out of reach at 20-13.
In the second stanza, SDSU blasted more kills (13-9), including five by Haynie, but the Gauchos countered with five service aces and five team blocks while benefiting from four unforced Aztec attack errors. SDSU maintained a slim 5-3 advantage, but a 4-0 surge highlighted by two Ohwobete service aces vaulted UCSB in front for good. The Aztecs remained within striking distance at 9-7 following a pair of kills by Haynie before the Gauchos responded with another timely 5-0 to give themselves some breathing room.
SDSU threw in one last scare after consecutive kills by Madison Corf, Rivera and Haynie, coupled with a service error, cut the margin to 18-16. However, the Aztecs were unable to grab the upper hand, as UCSB closed with a 7-2 run to prevent a Scarlet and Black rally. Ohwobete posted two more aces in that stretch and ultimately provided the clinching kill.
The third set was the most competitive, as the two teams combined for 14 ties and five lead changes. Despite finishing with fewer kills (13-11), SDSU was the beneficiary of five unforced Gaucho attack errors, while Corf and Miller each served up an ace. Still, the Aztecs found themselves on the wrong side of a 19-18 score following a combined block by Wilson and Farmer.
UCSB seeming extended its lead on a subsequent attack by SDSU's Mikela Labno that was initially ruled out. However, the Aztecs challenged, and the call was reversed, knotting the score at 19-19 and swinging the momentum towards the Scarlet and Black. Buoyed by its good fortune, SDSU closed with a 6-3 spurt, as Merk, Kat Cooper, Rivera and Haynie each supplied a kill, while the Gauchos self-destructed with a double-hit and an attack error down the stretch.
Whatever energy the Aztecs possessed at this juncture quickly evaporated in the fourth set, as UCSB raced to a 6-1 lead and was never threatened. Froley (.667) knocked down five kills against one error on six swings in the frame, while Sophie Reavis added three put-aways of her own. The Gauchos twice extended their lead to 12 points, including a 20-8 margin after Froley launched a pair of non-returnables.
Froley led all players with 13 kills for the match, while Reavis (.600) finished with nine put-aways on 15 attempts without an error. At the net, Correal posted a match-best seven blocks, including a solo stop, while Wilson contributed six block assists, followed by Reavis and Farmer with four apiece.
Earlier in the day, San Diego State was unable to contain the three-pronged attack of Pepperdine's Grace Chillingworth, Emily Hellmuth and Rachel Ahrens, who combined for 33 of the Waves' 49 kills with 11 put-aways each.
The Aztecs countered with Kayla Rivera, who finished with a .647 efficiency on a match-high 12 kills in 17 swings with just one error, while Heipua Tautua'a racked up 11 non-returnables to go with a career-best four service aces. Mikela Labno also hit well on the afternoon, finishing with a .316 clip (7-1-19), while Ellie Geoghegan scooped up a match-high 16 digs.
The SDSU cause was also advanced by Sarena Gonzalez (24 assists) and Noa Miller (20 assists), with the latter just missing a double-double after finishing with eight digs, while Kat Cooper posted a team-high three block assists.
However, the Aztecs were outhit for the match .371 to .259, as Pepperdine (5-1) benefited from 15 unforced SDSU attack errors. Although the Scarlet and Black maintained a 42-36 advantage in digs and each side served up six aces, the Waves also finished with more team blocks (9.0 to 4.5) to help fuel their win.
The third set was the most entertaining as the teams combined for 11 ties and four lead changes. Still, the Aztecs seemed poised to extend the match to a fourth frame after building a 20-15 lead thanks to a Rivera kill. Pepperdine tightened the score at 23-21 moments later following a Hellmuth kill, a combined block by Vanessa Polk and Isabel Zelaya, and a Meg Brown ace.
Labno responded with a kill of her own, which extended the SDSU lead to 24-21. Incredibly, the Waves fought off nine set points down the stretch, including a 32-31 deficit after another Labno put-away. Pepperdine finally closed off the match on a Kayleigh Hames service ace following a Hellmuth kill and an Aztec attack error.
SDSU found itself in pursuit mode throughout the first set, facing a series of five-point deficits, including a 21-16 spread after an errant serve. Two Tautua'a kills narrowed the gap, but the Waves answered with four straight points to dash any comeback hopes.
Tautua'a finished with six kills in the frame, but it wasn't enough, as Pepperdine countered with five put-aways by Ahrens. The Waves hit a collective .353 in that stretch, knocking down 16 kills against just two errors on 34 attempts.
Early in the third set, SDSU was powered by three Julia Haynie kills, along with a pair of Tautua'a aces to help forge an 11-9 lead. However, Pepperdine quickly seized control with a 7-0 run, as Polk and Ahrens launched two put-aways each during that span. The Aztecs never drew closer than three points the rest of the way, as the Collingworth figured in the Waves' final three points with a pair of kills sandwiched around a combined block with Brown.
San Diego State returns home for six of its next seven matches, starting next weekend when it plays host to the Aztec Classic, Sept. 9-10, in Peterson Gym. SDSU will battle Maryland (10 a.m. PT) and Arizona (7 p.m. PT) on Friday, Sept. 9, before facing Sacramento State (2:30 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Aztecs Drop Two Saturday Matches in Malibu
