SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State volleyball team reaches the midway point of its Mountain West schedule when it battles New Mexico and Air Force this week.
The Aztecs will venture to Albuquerque to face the Lobos on Thursday, Oct. 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. MT (5:30 p.m. PT), before returning to "America's Finest City" on Saturday, Oct. 22 to engage the Falcons with a 1 p.m. PT start.
In addition to live stats, both contests will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network on GoAztecs.com.
The SDSU-Air Force encounter will mark the Aztecs' breast cancer awareness match, featuring a pink rally towel giveaway promotion for fans in attendance.
San Diego State will be looking to put the brakes on a five-match losing streak following a 3-1 defeat to Wyoming (Oct. 13) and a hard-fought three-setter against Colorado State two days later (Oct. 15).
With the results, the Aztecs (4-15, 2-6 MW) enter the week in tie for eighth in the Mountain West standings along with New Mexico.
During SDSU's homestand last weekend, outside hitter Madison Corf led the team with a combined 21 kills (3.00/set) while contributing 20 digs (2.86), three service aces and a block assist. Against CSU, the SDSU freshman recorded her first collegiate double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs. In addition, defensive specialist and fellow classmate Ellie Geoghegan scooped up 32 digs overall (4.57/set) and served up four aces.
The Lobos and Falcons are the two Mountain West teams the Aztecs will face just once this season.
SERIES RECORD VS. NEW MEXICO
> Despite dropping both meetings against the Lobos last season, the Aztecs still lead the all-time series 41-23.
> In its last excursion to the Duke City on Nov. 13, 2021, San Diego State was upended in three sets (23-25, 23-25, 13-25).
> Among Aztec returners, Jordyn Goldsmith finished with six kills in that match, while Julia Haynie notched three put-aways and contributed a pair of blocks.
> However, the Lobos out-hit the Aztecs .323 to .123 and maintained the statistical advantage in kills (44-37) and team blocks (9.0 to 3.0) to complete a season sweep against the Scarlet and Black for the first time since 2009.
> Earlier in the year, SDSU saw its eight-match winning streak against New Mexico snapped in a four-set defeat (20-25, 20-25, 25-16, 21-25) on The Mesa.
> Despite a stellar defensive effort in which the Aztecs maintained the upper hand in team blocks (10.0 to 7.0) and digs (42-33), the Aztecs were victimized by 10 service aces and hit just .168 in that encounter.
> Among SDSU returners, Heipua Tautua'a tied for team-high honors with nine kills, while Mikela Labno launched eight non-returnables of her own. In addition, Goldsmith finished with a .556 efficiency, knocking down six kills in nine attempts with just one error, while Noa Miller tied her season best with 28 assists.
SERIES RECORD VS. AIR FORCE
> Although the Falcons have captured seven of the last 12 meetings, San Diego State still holds a sizable 39-9 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1996.
> The Aztecs split two matches with Air Force last season, posting a hotly contested three-set sweep (26-24, 27-25, 25-21) on their home court before dropping a 3-2 heartbreaker at the Academy (19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 17-25, 9-15).
> Among SDSU returners, Mikela Labno blasted 10 kills and hit .474 in that first match, committing just one error in 19 attempts, while Noa Miller just missed a double-double with 25 assists and eight digs.
> In a slugfest that featured a whopping 35 ties and 12 lead changes, the Aztecs posted their third-highest efficiency of the year with a .337 clip.
> The two teams witnessed an additional 30 ties and 15 lead changes in the rematch later that season. However, the Falcons maintained a sizable advantage in team blocks (17.0 to 7.0) and service aces (9-1) while holding a slight edge in kills (58-55) to help key their victory.
> Individually, Tautua'a set a season high in that contest with 18 digs.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Julia Haynie ranks eighth in the conference with a .324 hitting percentage, while Elly Schraeder is slotted 12th with 0.95 blocks per 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 fourth-best efficiency in the conference this season.
> McKenna Douglas' 26 digs vs. Nevada on Sept. 24 mark the fifth-best total in a four-set match this season in the league.
> Schraeder's nine overall blocks vs. Army West Point is tied for the sixth-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 13th-best figure in the conference overall.
> Collectively, the Aztecs' 71 kills against Nevada is tied for the third-highest figure in the league this season and represents the most in a four-set match.
> In addition, SDSU's 67 kills against UC San Diego are tied for the fourth-highest figure in the MW for a four-set match this year.
> The Aztecs' 48 kills at Pepperdine is tied for the fifth-highest figure in the MW a three-set match in the league this year.
> In addition, SDSU's 14 team blocks vs. Army is tied for the seventh-best total in the conference.
NEWCOMERS SHINE
> Seven of eight Aztec newcomers have seen action for the Scarlet and Black this season, with several providing key contributions through 19 matches.
> Freshman Madison Corf has started 13 of 19 matches and leads the team with 2.53 kills per set while ranking second with 155 kills overall. The former AVCA Prep All-American set a career high with 22 put-aways in SDSU's 3-1 triumph over Nevada on Sept. 24, which is tied for the 13th-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 seven matches thus far, tying sophomore Mikela Labno for the team lead. 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. On Oct. 15, Corf also logged her first collegiate double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs vs. Colorado State.
> A senior transfer from Georgia, Kayla Rivera has started 18 of 19 matches for SDSU and ranks second on the team with 42 total blocks while occupying the second spot in kills (2.21/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 192 digs overall and has surpassed the double-digit plateau on nine 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 recorded 15 of her 19 service aces for the season in her last 10 appearances, tying her career best with three vs. Wyoming on Oct. 13.
> Despite missing nine matches this season, freshman libero McKenna Douglas still leads the Aztecs with 3.03 digs per set. The Phoenix, Arizona, native averaged 3.14 digs per frame in a six-match span from Sept. 22-Oct. 8, highlighted by a career-high 26 scoops vs. Nevada. In SDSU's 3-0 triumph at Fresno State on Sept. 27, Douglas served up a collegiate-best five aces, helping the Scarlet and Black record its first road sweep over the Bulldogs since 1996.
> In her first season on The Mesa after transferring from USD, sophomore middle blocker Elly Schraeder has started all 18 matches she has played, leading the team with 58 total blocks and 0.95 blocks per set, the latter of which ranks 12th 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 10 of 18 appearances, freshman middle blocker Kat Cooper is slotted third on the team with 28 total blocks and 0.53 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 ranks second on the squad with 4.88 assists per set. A starter in 10 of 19 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 54 digs (0.90/set) and 10 aces (0.17/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
> With two more victories, San Diego State will reach 900 wins in program history dating back to 1976. The Aztecs own an all-time record of 898-656 in almost 47 seasons of varsity competition.
> Ellie Geoghegan has served up at least one ace in seven straight matches, including three vs. No. 8 San Diego (Sept. 17) and Wyoming (Oct. 13).
> Kayla Rivera had at least one block to her credit in the first 18 matches of the season before her streak was snapped vs. Colorado 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 fifth in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll, New Mexico (11-7, 2-6 MW) has lost three straight and five of its last six after dropping two road matches last week. The Lobos were swept at San José State on Oct. 13 (23-25, 13-25, 18-25) on Oct. 13 before suffering a five-set heartbreaker at Nevada two days later (23-25, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 15-17), as a furious rally fell short. With the results, UNM finds themselves in a tie for eighth place in the conference standings at 2-6 with the Aztecs. The Lobos are 4-3 at home this season and a combined 7-6 in road/neutral matches. Offensively, UNM is led by senior outside hitter Kaitlynn Biassou, who occupies the second spot in the conference with 4.01 kills per set, which ranks 41st nationally, while junior outside hitters Uxue Guereca (2.91) and Kai Wolf (2.49) are also averaging over two put-aways per frame. In addition, senior libero Alena Moldan tops the conference with 4.49 digs per set, which ranks 57th in the country, while Guereca (3.30/set) is slotted eighth in the league in the same category. A pair of fifth-year seniors find themselves among the MW leaders this week, as middle blocker Avital Jaloba (1.09 blocks per set) and setter Anilee Sher rank fifth in their respective statistical categories. As a team, the Lobos lead the conference for all matches with a .182 opponent hitting percentage, which ranks 67th nationally, while their 15.76 digs per set is slotted second in the league and 43rd in the country. However, UNM occupies the sixth spot in the MW in kills (12.47) and the ninth position in blocks (2.09/set). The Lobos are under the direction of fourth-year head coach Jon Newman-Gonchar, who arrived on the Albuquerque campus after spending the previous three seasons at Arkansas as associate head coach. Newman-Gonchar has also had stints as an assistant coach at Iowa State (2013-15), Loyola Marymount (2010-12), as well as UC San Diego with both the men's and women's teams (2007-09).
> Saturday's opponent Air Force (8-12, 0-8 MW) is one of two remaining teams without a victory after eight conference matches, joining Fresno State. The Falcons were toppled in four sets at Nevada on Oct. 13 (25-20, 12-25 22-25, 22-25) before suffering a sweep at San José State two days later (20-25, 14-25, 17-25). Prior to its excursion to "America's Finest City" to battle the Aztecs, Air Force will play host to Fresno State on Thursday night. Junior middle blocker Joi Harvey leads the MW this week in blocks (1.25/set), which ranks 47th in the nation, while occupying the fourth spot in the conference with a team-best .363 hitting percentage. Harvey (2.54 kills/set) and senior outside hitter BrookeLyn Messenger (2.32 kills/set) have emerged the Falcons' primary offensive threats, while junior setter Caroline Reinkensmeyer is slotted ninth in the league with 5.50 assists per set. Sophomore libero Murphy Riggs lends defensive support along the Air Force back row with 2.85 digs per set, while Messenger (2.38/set) ranks second on the squad in that category. Collectively, the Falcons occupy the second position in the Mountain West with 2.34 blocks per set, which is good for 76th in the nation, but rank just ninth in the league with a .207 opponent hitting percentage. Additionally, Air Force is slotted third in the MW with 130 service aces, which ranks 45th in the country. However, the Falcons enter the week in league's eighth spot with a .198 hitting percentage and rank ninth in kills (11.80/set). Air Force is guided by Keith Barnett, who was elevated to head coach prior to the 2019 campaign after serving a four-year stint as a Falcons assistant, including the 2018 season as the team's associate head coach. Prior to his arrival at the Academy, Barnett was an assistant coach at West Texas A&M (2013-14) and the head coach at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (2009-12). He played collegiately at Pepperdine, where he received second-team All-American honors at setter in 2001.
ON THE HORIZON
> Following Saturday's clash, San Diego State will hit the road for a pair of rematches against recent opponents Colorado State and Wyoming to open the second half of its Mountain West slate.
> The Aztecs will head to the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains to face the Rams on Thursday, Oct. 27, starting at 7 p.m. MT (6 p.m. PT) before continuing north to Laramie to battle the Cowgirls on Saturday, Oct. 29, beginning at 1 p.m. MT (noon PT).
Aztecs Prep for Two MW Matches This Week
