SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State returns to The Mesa this weekend to open a two-match homestand against Mountain West foes Wyoming and Colorado State inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
The Aztecs will wrangle with the Cowgirls on Thursday, Oct. 13, beginning at 7 p.m. PT before locking horns with the Rams on Saturday, Oct. 15, starting at 1 p.m.
Live stats will be available for this week's matches, while Saturday's SDSU-CSU clash will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network. Links to both platforms can be found on GoAztecs.com.
The first 100 fans in attendance for Saturday's Aztecs-Rams encounter will receive a free Title IX water bottle, as the Scarlet and Black celebrates the 50th anniversary of Title IX legislation.
The 2022 campaign marks the first time since 2019 in which SDSU will face both Wyoming and Colorado State in home-and-way matches during the same season.
The Aztecs will be looking to put the brakes on a three-match losing streak following a three-set defeat at Utah State (Oct. 6) and a hard-fought four-setter at Boise State two days later (Oct. 8).
Despite the results, San Diego State (4-13, 2-4 MW) enters the week in tie for sixth in the Mountain West standings, along with Wyoming, New Mexico and Nevada.
During the Aztecs' recently completed four-match road swing, outside hitter Mikela Labno led the team with a combined 39 kills (2.79/set), including a career-high 16 put-aways last Saturday at Boise State. In addition, opposite hitter Kayla Rivera knocked down 35 kills of her own (2.50/set) and contributed 10 blocks, while middle blocker Elly Schraeder launched 20 non-returnables and added 11 rejections, including three solo stops.
SERIES RECORD VS. WYOMING
> The Aztecs lead the all-time series against the Cowgirls 36-24 in 60 meetings since 1984.
> However, SDSU will be looking to snap a six-match losing streak to Wyoming. The Aztecs last defeated the Cowgirls on Sept. 29, 2018, when the Scarlet and Black rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win a five-set thriller at home (25-20, 20-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-13).
> SDSU fell short to Wyoming on the road last year 3-0 (26-28, 19-25, 14-25) in the only encounter between the two squads in the fall of 2021.
> The Aztecs were out-hit .411 to .194 and trailed in team blocks 8.0 to 3.0, while the Cowgirls maintained a 47-38 advantage in kills and a 5-1 edge in service aces.
> Among SDSU returners, Jordyn Goldsmith blasted a career-high nine kills in that contest, while Heipua Tautua'a floored five shots of her own.
> The Aztecs will head to Laramie for the rematch vs. Wyoming on Saturday, Oct. 29.
SERIES RECORD VS. COLORADO STATE
> The Rams lead the all-time series 46-17.
> SDSU dropped a five-set nail-biter (28-26, 25-21, 22-25, 14-25, 13-15) in the lone meeting between the two sides during the 2021 fall campaign.
> The Aztecs maintained a 64-62 advantage in kills and a 60-55 advantage in digs, but it wasn't enough to prevent Colorado State from completing a reverse sweep.
> After hitting a combined .368 over the first two sets, the SDSU attack stalled, as the hosts recorded a .167 efficiency the rest of the way, including a .000 pace in the fourth stanza (6-6-28).
> Among Aztec returners, Heipua Tautua'a (16 digs) and Jordyn Goldsmith finished with eight kills apiece in last fall's encounter with the Rams, while Julia Haynie (.500) launched six put-aways of her own and tied for match-high honors with five block assists.
> Earlier, SDSU snapped an 11-match losing streak to CSU with a 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-20, 25-19) in the spring 2021 finale. That sweep also marked the Aztecs' first win over the Rams in San Diego since 2012.
> SDSU will venture to the Front Range of the Rockies for the rematch with CSU on Thursday, Oct. 27, in Fort Collins, Colorado.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Julia Haynie ranks fifth in the conference with a .345 hitting percentage, while Elly Schraeder is slotted 11th in blocks 0.98/set).
> Noa Miller's six service aces against UC San Diego on Aug. 27 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.
> Douglas' 26 digs vs. Nevada on Sept. 24 mark the fifth-best total in a four-set match this season in the league.
> 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 against UTEP on Sept. 15, 2018.
> Madison Corf's 22 kills vs. Nevada represent the fourth-highest total in a four-set match this season and is tied for the 11th-best figure in the conference overall.
> Collectively, the Aztecs' 71 kills against Nevada is tied for the second-highest figure n the league this season and represents the most in a four-set match.
> In addition, SDSU's 14 team blocks vs. Army is tied for the sixth-best total in the conference.
> The Aztecs have posted the Mountain West's ninth-best hitting percentage this year with a .349 clip (42-13-83) in their 3-0 victory at Fresno State.
> SDSU's 48 kills at Pepperdine is tied for the fourth-highest figure in a three-set match in the MW this year.
NEWCOMERS SHINE
> Seven of eight Aztec newcomers have seen action for the Scarlet and Black this season, with several providing key contributions through 17 matches.
> Freshman Madison Corf has started 12 of 17 matches and leads the team with 2.47 kills per set and ranks third with 136 kills overall. A former AVCA Prep All-American from Kansas City, Missouri, set a career high with 22 put-aways in SDSU's 3-1 triumph over Nevada on Sept. 24, which is tied for the 10th-best performance in the Mountain West this season and marks the fourth-highest total in a four-set match. Corf has recorded double-digit kills in six matches thus far, tying junior Heipua Tautua'a for the second spot on the team behind Mikela Labno's seven. In the Aztecs' 3-1 victory at home over UC San Diego on Aug. 27, she finished with a season-best .303 efficiency, blasting 15 kills, to go with a pair of blocks, including a solo stuff.
> After sitting out a three-week span of seven matches, freshman libero McKenna Douglas has returned to the lineup in the last six outings and has averaged 3.14 digs per set, highlighted by a career-high 26 scoops vs. Nevada. In SDSU's 3-0 triumph at Fresno State on Sept. 27, the Phoenix, Arizona, native served up a collegiate-best five aces, helping the Scarlet and Black record its first road sweep over the Bulldogs since 1996.
> A senior transfer from Georgia, Kayla Rivera has started 16 of 17 matches for SDSU and ranks second on the team with 38 total blocks while occupying the fourth spot in kills (2.17/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 logged a season-high 13 kills against Nevada and a collegiate-best seven block assists vs. Army West Point at the SDSU Invitational.
> Freshman defensive specialist Ellie Geoghegan has taken over the team lead with 160 digs overall and has surpassed the double-digit plateau on seven occasions, 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 has also served up eight aces in her last six appearances, including three at No. 8 San Diego on Sept. 17.
> In her first season on The Mesa after transferring from USD, sophomore middle blocker Elly Schraeder has started all 16 matches she has played, leading the team with 56 total blocks and 0.98 blocks per set, the latter of which ranks 11th in the Mountain West. The Athlol, Idaho, native flashed her versatility against Army West Point, posting a career-high nine blocks, including a solo stuff, while hitting .375 on a season-best eight kills in 16 swings with just two errors.
> A starter in nine of 16 appearances, freshman middle blocker Kat Cooper is slotted third on the team with 23 total blocks and 0.49 blocks per set 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. In the Mountain West opener against San José State, Cooper matched her season best with seven kills, posting a .429 efficiency with one error in 14 swings.
> Freshman setter Sarena Gonzalez is averaging a team-leading 4.93 assists per set. A starter in 10 of 17 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 48 digs (0.89/set) and 10 aces (0.19/set) this season, the latter of which ranks fourth on the team. In the fourth set against Maryland at the Aztec Classic, she spun three aces on consecutive serves.
ODDS & ENDS
> Kayla Rivera has at least one block to her credit in all 17 matches this season, including one solo stop each at UNLV and Utah State.
> Ellie Geoghegan has served up at least one ace in five straight matches, including two at Boise State.
> All four of SDSU's victories have been recorded with the Aztecs holding the statistical advantage in kills, hitting percentage and digs.
> San Diego State is also 3-0 this season when leading after two sets.
> Three of the Aztecs' four wins have been registered on a Saturday.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Picked to finish seventh in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll, Wyoming (6-12, 2-4 MW) dropped two home matches last week, falling to San José State in a tight four-set battle (22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 24-26) on Oct. 6 before suffering a five-set heartbreaker to Nevada (23-25, 26-24, 25-16, 21-25, 13-15) two days later, as the Wolf Pack overcame a 2-1 deficit in sets. With the results, the Cowgirls find themselves in a tie for sixth place in the conference standings with the Aztecs, New Mexico and Nevada with a 2-4 mark. Wyoming is 2-7 at home this season and a combined 4-5 in road/neutral matches. Offensively, Wyoming sports three players who are averaging over two kills per set in junior outside hitter Naya Shimé (2.94), fellow outside and classmate Corin Carruth (2.73) and graduate outside hitter KC McMahon (2.55). In addition, sophomore setter Kasia Partyka (9.82 assists/set) and freshman middle blocker Tierney Barlow (.362 hitting percentage) occupy the second spot in the Mountain West in their respective statistical categories, with the latter ranking 62nd nationally. The Cowgirls' back row is anchored by senior Hailey Zuroske , who ranks fifth in the league with 3.68 digs per set, while sophomore Kayla Mazzocca (0.97 blocks per set, 61 total blocks) is the team's top threat at the net, along with Barlow (0.70 blocks/set, 44 total blocks). Collectively, Wyoming slotted fifth in the MW this week with a .217 hitting percentage and sixth in digs (12.93/set), but ranks just ninth in kills (11.93/set) and 10th in blocks (1.93/set). The Cowgirls are coached by Chad Callihan, who is in his 10th season on the Laramie campus after spending five years as head coach at Georgia Southern. He has also served as head coach at Appalachian State and Radford. Callihan's career record stands at 401-243, including a 174-107 mark with Wyoming.
> Saturday's opponent Colorado State (12-5, 5-1 MW) split its two home matches last week, sweeping Nevada on Oct. 8 (25-23, 25-23, 25-13) before suffering its first conference loss in a five-set defeat to visiting San José State two days later (22-25, 25-19, 17-25, 25-20, 12-15). Prior to the 2022 campaign, the Rams were picked first in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll. Colorado State is 8-3 on its home floor this year and a combined 4-2 in road/neutral matches. Before locking horns with the Aztecs, the Rams will travel to Fresno State on Thursday night. Offensively, junior outside hitter Kennedy Stanford leads CSU with 3.02 kills per set (193 overall), while sophomore middle blocker Malaya Jones (2.70), junior middle blocker Karina Leber (2.47) and senior outside hitter Annie Sullivan (2.33) are all averaging over two put-aways per frame. Entering the week, Leber ranks fourth in the conference with a .357 hitting percentage, followed by fellow middle and classmate Naeemah Weathers (.301) in the ninth spot. In addition, senior setter Ciera Pritchard finds herself among the conference leaders, ranking fourth with 9.51 assists per set, while freshman defensive specialist Kate Yoshimoto is slotted eighth with 3.44 digs per frame. Collectively, the Rams top the Mountain West with a .264 hitting percentage, which ranks 25th in the nation. Additionally, CSU finds itself near the middle of the pack in the league in kills (6th, 12.52/set), assists (6th, 11.38/set) and blocks (7th, 2.15/set) but ranks ninth in digs (12.20/set). Colorado State is coached by Tom Hilbert, who has guided the Rams to 23 NCAA Tournament appearances since his arrival on the Fort Collins campus in 1997. Previously, Hilbert was the head coach at Idaho from 1989-96. His career record is 804-230, including a 630-158 mark at CSU.
ON THE HORIZON
> Following Saturday's clash, San Diego State will split two matches next week, traveling to New Mexico on Thursday, Oct. 20, before returning to "America's Finest City" on Saturday, Oct. 22 to battle Air Force.
> The Aztecs will tangle with the Lobos in Albuquerque at 6:30 p.m. MT (5:30 p.m. PT), while the starting time for their showdown vs. the Falcons is set for 1 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Set for Weekend Homestand vs. Wyoming, CSU
