SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State will play six of its next seven matches at home, starting this weekend when it hosts the Aztec Classic, Sept. 9-10, on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
On Friday, SDSU will square off against two opponents, battling Big Ten foe Maryland at 10 a.m. PT, before locking horns with Arizona, beginning at 7 p.m. The first 50 fans to arrive for the Aztecs' matinee vs. the Terrapins will receive a free donut as part of the team's Digs and Donuts promotion, while the first 250 fans in attendance for the nightcap against the Wildcats will receive a free SDSU Volleyball T-shirt. On Saturday, the Aztecs will close out their second home tournament with a clash against Sacramento State, starting at 2:30 p.m.
Live stats for all matches will be available throughout the weekend, while SDSU's encounter with Arizona will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network. Links to both platforms can be accessed on GoAztecs.com.
SERIES RECORD VS. MARYLAND
> The Aztecs have faced the Terrapins just twice in program history, splitting two matches prior to the rally scoring era.
> SDSU claimed a 3-1 victory (15-6, 15-9, 8-15, 15-7) in its opening encounter of the Marine Midland Classic in Syracuse, New York, before dropping a tough five-set nail-biter (5-15, 15-12, 7-15, 15-9, 9-15) at the 1998 Temple Invitational in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
> The Aztecs last played a Big Ten adversary in 2017 when it fell in three sets to then-No. 23 Michigan State at the Spartans' own Auto-Owners Insurance Invitational in East Lansing, Michigan.
> The previous season, San Diego State was defeated in four sets by Michigan State in the second match of the 2016 Aztec Invitational, marking the last time the Scarlet and Black faced a Big Ten school at home.
> The Aztecs sport a 24-10 overall record vs. current Big Ten volleyball members.
SERIES RECORD VS. ARIZONA
> > Despite dropping four straight matches in the series, SDSU still owns a 20-11 all-time record against the Wildcats dating back to 1978.
> The Aztecs are 11-4 against Arizona in San Diego, 7-4 in Tucson and 3-3 on a neutral court.
> The teams met last season at the 2021 Wildcat Classic in Arizona, where the Scarlet and Black was upended in three sets (20-25, 22-25, 15-25). In that contest, the Wildcats served up seven aces while recording more kills (41-30) and team blocks (8.0 to 4.0) to help fuel their victory.
> Among SDSU returners, Mikela Labno racked up six kills, three digs and a pair of block assists vs. Arizona, while Jordyn Goldsmith finished with five put-aways of her own to go with a trio of digs.
> The teams combined for 14 ties and three lead changes in the first two sets; however, the Aztecs were unable to respond to several timely runs by the Wildcats.
SERIES RECORD VS. SACRAMENTO STATE
> San Diego State has faced the Hornets just once in program history, dropping a dramatic five-set decision on the road in 1994 (5-15, 15-10, 15-13, 9-15, 14-16).
> The Aztecs are 19-6 against current members of the Big Sky Conference.
> SDSU last played a Big Sky foe in 2019 when it defeated Eastern Washington, 3-1, in the second match of the GCU Invitational in Phoenix, Arizona (25-16, 22-25, 28-26, 25-21).
TOURNAMENT CONNECTIONS
> Maryland senior defensive specialist Lexy Finnerty hails from nearby Encinitas, California, and prepped at La Costa Canyon High School.
> The Terrapins sport one additional player from California, junior right-side hitter Laila Ricks, who graduated in 2020 from Redondo Union High in Redondo Beach.
> Arizona sophomore opposite hitter/middle blocker China Rai Crouch graduated in 2021 from Carlsbad High School.
> Sacramento State assistant coach Ed Jackson is a San Diego native. He also serves as co-head coach of the Hornets' beach volleyball program.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Noa Miller is tied for fifth in the conference in services aces (0.50/set), while Sarena Gonzalez has climbed into the ninth position with 6.15 assists per set. In addition, Elly Schraeder is slotted 10 with 1.05 blocks per set.
> Miller's six service aces against UC San Diego 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 are slotted third in the conference in assists (12.41/set) while ranking fourth in kills (13.18/set), seventh in services (1.36/set) and eighth in both digs (11.91/set) and blocks (1.89/set).
> However, SDSU has slipped to ninth in hitting percentage (.177) and ranks last in opponents' efficiency (.245).
ALL-TOURNAMENT AZTEC
> Senior opposite hitter Kayla Rivera earned a spot on the all-tournament team for her performance in three matches last weekend at the Pepperdine ASICS Classic in Malibu, California.
> A native of Ventura, Rivera led the Aztecs with 29 kills overall and hit .333, including a career-best .647 against host Pepperdine on Sept. 3, when she launched 12 non-returnables on 17 attempts with just one error.
> She also contributed double-digit kills later that day vs. UC Santa Barbara when she tied for team-high honors with 10 put-aways to go with a .368 efficiency.
NEWCOMERS SHINE
> Seven of eight Aztec newcomers have seen action for the Scarlet and Black this season, with several providing key contributions through six matches.
> A senior transfer from Georgia, Kayla Rivera has started all six matches for SDSU and ranks second on the team in kills (2.27 kills/set while tying for the No. 2 spot with 17 total blocks. 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 on Aug 27.
> Freshman Madison Corf has started four of six matches and ranks third on the squad in kills (2.25/set) and fourth in blocks (0.35/set). A former AVCA Prep All-American from Kansas City, Missouri, Corf blasted a team season-high 15 kills in the Aztecs' triumph over UC San Diego on Aug. 27, finishing 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 with a season-best seven digs vs. UC Santa Barbara.
> The lone freshman to have started all six matches thus far, middle blocker Kat Cooper ranks second on the team with 0.81 blocks per set and is tied for second with 17 total blocks, joining Rivera in that spot. A former AVCA Prep All-American, Cooper enjoyed a breakout performance against UC San Diego on Aug. 27, 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.
> In her first season on The Mesa after transferring from USD, sophomore middle blocker Elly Schraeder has also started all six matches for the Scarlet and Black, averaging a team-best 1.05 blocks per set, which ranks 10th in the Mountain West as of Sept. 8. 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.
> As previously mentioned, freshman setter Sarena Gonzalez is averaging 6.19 assists per set, which ranks ninth in the Mountain West as of Sept. 8. A starter in five of six matches, the Temecula product has dished at least 20 assists in her last four appearances, including a season-high 30 helpers vs. UCSD on Aug. 27. In addition, Gonzalez has 22 digs to her credit (1.10/set), posting five scoops in her last two matches at Pepperdine and vs. UCSB.
> Freshman defensive specialist Ellie Geoghegan has taken over the team lead with 50 digs this season, including 33 in her last two matches alone (4.71/set) at Pepperdine (16) and vs. (17), the latter of which marked a season high. 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 on Aug. 27.
> Despite missing the last two matches at the Pepperdine ASICS Classic, freshman McKenna Douglas still tops the squad in average digs with 2.87 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 14 setting assists and a pair of aces so far this year.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Maryland (4-2), which was pegged for a 10th-place finish out of 14 schools in the Big Ten won two of three matches last weekend at the Stony Brook Invitational on New York's Long Island. The Terrapins swept past Georgetown and the host Seawolves before falling in five sets to South Florida. As of Sept. 7, Maryland leads the nation with 3.52 blocks per set, while ranking third in the Big Ten both opponent hitting percentage (.131) and service aces (2.05/set). However, Terps find themselves at the bottom of the conference in kills (11.14/set) and assists (9.76/set) despite landing in the fifth position with a .281 hitting percentage. Individually, senior middle blocker Rainelle Jones leads the country with 2.21 blocks per set, while fellow middle Anastasia Russ (1.33/set) is slotted 10th in the Big Ten in that category. Not to be outdone, right-side hitter Laila Ricks (1.14) and setter Sydney Dowler (1.10) are also averaging over a block per set, while sophomore Milan Gomillian anchors Maryland's back row with a team-leading 3.29 digs per set. Offensively, the Terps sport a trio of players who are averaging over two kills per set in outside hitters Sam Csire (2.86), Laila Ivey (2.67) and middle blocker Ellie Watson (2.50), while Russ tops the squad with .435 hitting percentage. In addition, Dowler (8.33 assists/set) has handled the majority of Maryland's setting chores this season and is slotted 10th in the league entering the weekend in that statistic. Last season, the Terps finished with a 19-13 overall record, tying for 10th in the Big Ten with a conference mark of 7-13. In 2021, Maryland was a combined 9-7 in matches away from their home floor. The Terps are guided by Adam Hughes, who is now in his fifth season as head coach after spending four years as an assistant coach with the program. Maryland's 19 victories last season were the most since 2010 and featured an upset in five sets over eventual national champion Wisconsin.
> Arizona (4-1) split two matches at the UNC Tournament last weekend in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, sweeping Wake Forest in three sets, before dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision to the host Tar Heels. Prior to Friday night's clash with SDSU, the Wildcats open tournament play with a showdown vs. Sacramento State at 1 p.m. PT. Entering the weekend, Arizona ranks fourth nationally with a .102 opponent hitting percentage, trailing only Nebraska (.077), North Alabama (.089) and Drake (.096). Among Pac-12 leaders, the Wildcats occupy the fourth position in service aces (1.83/set) and rank sixth in both digs (14.28/set) and blocks (2.56/set). However, Arizona finds itself in the bottom half of the conference in several offensive categories, including hitting percentage (8th, .252), kills (9th, 12.83/set) and assists (12th, 10.94). Individually, junior outside hitter Jaelyn Hodge leads the Wildcats with 3.29 kills per set, which ranks 10th in the Pac-12, while fellow classmate Sofia Maldanado Diaz (2.60/set) and sophomore opposite hitter Puk Stebbe (2.50/set) are also averaging more than two put-aways each per frame. In addition, senior middle blocker Zyonna Fellows ranks third in the conference and 22nd nationally with a .433 hitting percentage while occupying the sixth spot in the Pac-12 with 1.39 blocks per set. Elsewhere, senior libero Kamaile Hiapo finds herself among the conference leaders this week, ranking third in digs (3.94/set), while junior Emery Herman (8.12 assists/set is Arizona's primary setter and occupies the 11th spot in the league. The Wildcats were picked to finish 10th in the Pac-12 preseason coaches poll after posting a 17-16 overall record in 2021 and an eighth-place mark of 8-12 in conference play. Head coach Dave Rubio is entering his 31st season on the Tucson campus, where he has led Arizona to 20 NCAA Tournament berths, including eight trips to the Sweet 16, four Elite Eight appearances, as well as a trip to the Final Four in 2001. His record with the Wildcats stands at 542-352 (.606).
> Tied for fifth in the 2022 Big Sky Conference preseason coaches poll, Sacramento State (2-4) dropped two matches over the holiday weekend, suffering a home sweep at the hands of Mountain West member San José State on Saturday before falling in four sets at UC Davis on Labor Day afternoon. The Hornets will face one additional MW school during the regular season when they battle Fresno State on Sept. 16 at CSU Bakersfield's Central California Classic. Despite its sub-.500 record, Sacramento State still finds itself among the Big Sky leaders in several statistical categories, ranking second in blocks (2.78/set) while occupying the third spot in kills (12.57/set), assists (11.22/set) and hitting percentage (.222). Offensively, the Hornets are powered by the combo of outside hitters Bridgette Smith (3.35 kills/set) and Caitlin Volkman (3.00 kills/set), who rank eighth and 10th in the Big Sky, respectively, while middle blocker Kalani Hayes has taken over the top spot in the league with a .384 hitting percentage, while opposite hitter Karlee Soderberg is slotted fourth with a .333 efficiency. Defensively, senior Caty Cordano anchors Sac State's back row, ranking second in the Big Sky with 4.22 digs per set, while middle blocker Tiyanane Kamba-Griffin finds herself in the same position with 1.48 blocks/set, followed by Hayes (8th, 1.13 blocks/set) in that category. Not to be outdone, setter Ashtin Olin occupies the third position in the Big Sky this week with 9.91 assists per set and ranks among the conference top 10 in blocks (T-8th, 1.09/set) and digs (10th, 3.26/set). Head coach Ruben Volta is back for his 15th season in charge of the Hornet program. A Sacramento State alumnus, Volta garnered Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year accolades in 2015-17 and has guided the Hornets to a combined 128-82 record and an 80-35 mark in conference action over the last seven seasons, highlighted by Big Sky regular-season titles in 2016 (South Division) and 2017.
ON THE HORIZON
> Following the Aztec Classic, San Diego State wraps up its non-conference schedule with a pair of matches against perennial heavyweights UCLA and San Diego, both of which are expected to remain in the AVCA Top 25 rankings next week. The Aztecs will play host to the No. 22 Bruins on Thursday, Sept. 15, starting at 7 p.m. PT, before traveling down Interstate 8 for the annual intra-city showdown against the No. 12 Toreros on Saturday, Sept. 17, at USD's Jenny Craig Pavilion, beginning at 6 p.m.
Volleyball Set to Host Aztec Classic This Weekend
