LAS VEGAS – The San Diego State volleyball team had its two-match winning streak snapped in a four-set defeat to UNLV (15-25, 19-25, 27-25, 22-25) on Saturday in a Mountain West clash at Cox Pavilion.
Despite a valiant effort, the Aztecs were unable to overcome a 0-2 deficit in sets, falling to 4-11 on the season and 2-2 in conference play, while the Rebels won their third straight to improve to 12-3 overall and 3-1 in the MW.
SDSU trailed in several statistical categories but nearly extended the match to a fifth set until UNLV erased a 20-17 deficit in the fourth frame with an 8-2 closing run to squelch the Scarlet and Black's comeback hopes and escape with the victory.
Individually, the Aztecs were led by Madison Corf's 15 kills, while Kayla Rivera (.467) and Julia Haynie (.429) powered down eight shots apiece. In addition, Rivera (1 solo) and Elly Schraeder (2 solos) finished with four blocks each, while Sarena Gonzalez (15 assists) and Noa Miller (14 assists) split the setting chores.
However, SDSU was unable to contain the three-pronged attack of Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos, Isabel Martin and Chloe Thomas, who combined for 43 of the Rebels' 56 kills. Arretche-Ramos led all players with 20 put-aways and hit .455 for the match, while Martin (.333) recorded 12 kills of her own, followed closely by Thomas (.300), who launched 11 non-returnables and finished with six block assists.
Not to be outdone, Jordyn Freeman was a rock in the Aztecs' proverbial shoe all day after totaling seven block assists, while Jhenna Gabriel dished out a match-high 36 assists.
Collectively, UNLV out-hit the Aztecs .331 to .222, maintaining the upper hand in kills (56-42) and team blocks (13.0 to 9.0), while overcoming 15 service errors to help key the victory.
Similarly, SDSU was plagued by its own serving woes, as 10 miscues offset any momentum generated by six aces.
Still, the Aztecs were in prime position to send the match to a fifth set.
San Diego State found itself trailing by as many as six points in the third stanza, including an 11-5 spread following a combined block by Freeman and Gabriel. The Aztecs methodically clawed their way back into contention, forging an 18-11 run to vault in front 23-22. Haynie keyed the blitz with three kills and a service ace, while Rivera added two put-aways of her own during that stretch and joined forces with Schraeder on a block.
The Rebels turned the tables and reached match point on two occasions, once at 24-23 following a kill by Arretche-Ramos and again at 25-24 after an Aztec service error. However, Corf kept SDSU alive almost single-handedly with two kills along with a solo block, as the visitors prevailed 27-25.
Collectively, the Aztecs limited UNLV to its lowest hitting percentage of the match at .194, as the host school committed seven attack errors on 36 attempts against 14 kills.
Inspired by its good fortune, SDSU maintained the upper hand throughout much of the fourth set, building a series of three-point leads, including a 20-17 bulge after another Corf kill. However, the Rebels regrouped in time to fashion an 8-2 closing run and secure the match.
Three bad sets by the Scarlet and Black proved costly down the stretch, while Thomas combined with Dakota Quinlan for a pair of blocks. Suddenly thrust in front at 23-22, UNLV received back-to-back kills from Arretche-Ramos for the clinching points.
SDSU found itself in pursuit mode throughout the first two sets, as the Rebels owned a 28-19 edge in kills over that span while hitting .489, compared to the Aztecs' .283 clip.
After benefiting from five SDSU service errors in the opening frame, UNLV totaled three blocks and a pair of aces in the second stanza to help keep the visitors at bay.
The Aztecs trailed just 5-4 in the second set following a Rivera kill until the Rebels seized control with a 6-0 blitz, capped by three consecutive Martin put-aways.
San Diego State continues its road swing next week when it travels to Utah State on Thursday, Oct. 6, before heading to Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 8. Both matches will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network.
Aztecs Downed in Four Sets at UNLV
