SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State wraps up its season-long road swing this week when it faces Utah State and Boise State in a pair of Mountain West matches.
The Aztecs will lock horns with the Aggies in Logan, Utah, on Thursday, Oct. 6, beginning at 7 p.m. MT (6 p.m. PT) before traveling to the Gem State for a clash with the Broncos on Saturday, Oct. 8 , starting at noon MT (11 a.m. PT).
Live stats and streaming video via the Mountain West Network will be available for this week's matches, and links to both platforms can be found on GoAztecs.com.
SDSU had its two-match winning streak snapped in a four-set defeat at UNLV on Oct. 1. Earlier last week, the Aztecs posted their first road sweep at Fresno State with a 3-0 blanking of the Bulldogs on Sept. 27.
With the split, San Diego State (4-11, 2-2 MW) enters the week in tie for fifth in the Mountain West standings, along with Utah State and Wyoming.
Aztec middle blocker Julia Haynie has hit .520 over the last two matches with 15 kills in 25 attempts with just two errors. With her performance the SDSU senior has moved into fifth place in the conference with a .352 clip for the season.
In addition, freshman libero McKenna Douglas has served up six aces in her last two outings and now ranks sixth in the MW with 0.37 aces per set.
SERIES RECORD VS. UTAH STATE
> Despite dropping a pair matches to the Aggies last season, the Aztecs still lead the all-time series 18-9.
> Overall, SDSU owns a 12-2 record against Utah State in San Diego, a 4-4 mark in Logan and a 2-3 ledger vs. the Aggies on a neutral floor.
> The two teams last met on Oct. 28, 2021, when the Aztecs suffered a five-set heartbreaker at home (21-25, 25-18, 25-16, 21-25, 15-17).
> Among SDSU returners, Heipua Tautua'a recorded a double-double in that match with 10 kills and 15 digs, while Julia Haynie hit .571 on nine put-aways in 14 swings with just one error.
> Despite maintaining a 65-42 advantage in kills and posting 12 team blocks, USU countered with 16 stops of its own while benefiting from 31 attack errors and 14 wayward serves by the Aztecs.
> SDSU was last victorious in Logan on Nov. 21, 2019, when it emerged with a four-set triumph (25-18, 29-27, 17-25, 25-20). The Aztecs did not travel to the Beehive State during the 2021 spring campaign that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
> The Aggies will head to San Diego for the rematch between the two teams on Saturday, Nov. 5.
SERIES RECORD VS. BOISE STATE
> The Broncos own a slim 11-10 advantage against the Aztecs in a series that dates back to 2005.
> However, the Aztecs have defeated Boise State on the road in consecutive seasons for the first time ever after recording a 3-0 sweep (25-23, 25-20, 25-18) nearly a year ago to the date on Oct. 14, 2021.
> In that contest, Heipua Tautua'a led SDSU's returning class with 11 kills, while Jordyn Goldsmith floored nine shots of her own and hit .467 for the night. In addition, setter Noa Miller dished out 22 assists.
> The Broncos entered that match ranked fifth nationally with 188 total blocks, but SDSU was not intimidated, as the Scarlet and Black posted a .400 hitting percentage, marking its highest efficiency since a .410 performance in a home sweep of San Diego on Oct. 2, 2018.
> Not to be outdone, the Aztecs maintained the statistical advantage in kills (55-32) and digs (34-23) to help spark their win.
> SDSU will play host to Boise State for the rematch on Thursday, Nov. 3.
MATCH CONNECTIONS
> Boise State sophomore libero Sam Beschell and freshman outside hitter Dana Branavets prepped at San Diego area high schools. Beschell hails from Solana Beach and graduated from Santa Fe Christian High, while Branavets is an alumna of Del Norte High.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Julia Haynie ranks fifth in the conference with a .352 hitting percentage; McKenna Douglas ranks sixth in in services aces (0.37/set), while Elly Schraeder is slotted eighth in blocks (1.02/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 marks the fourth-highest total in a four-set match this season and is tied for the ninth-best figure in the conference overall.
> Ellie Geoghegan's 16 digs at Pepperdine is tied for the fourth-best total in a four-set match this year.
> Collectively, the Aztecs' 71 kills against Nevada is tied for the second-highest figure n the league this season.
> In addition, SDSU's 14 team blocks vs. Army is tied for the sixth-best total in the conference.
> The Aztecs posted the Mountain West's eighth-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 third-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 15 matches.
> Freshman Madison Corf has started 11 of 15 matches and leads the team with 133 kills overall and 2.61 kills per set. 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 ninth-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 and 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.
> After sitting out seven matches, freshman libero McKenna Douglas has returned to the lineup in the last four matches and has averaged 3.60 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 14 of 15 matches for SDSU and ranks second on the team with 34 total blocks while occupying the fourth spot in kills (2.13/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 144 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 14 matches she has played, leading the team with 51 total blocks and 1.02 blocks per set, the latter of which ranks ninth 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 14 appearances, freshman middle blocker Kat Cooper is slotted third on the team with 21 total blocks and 0.51 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 5.00 assists per set. A starter in nine of 15 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 45 digs (0.92/set) and 10 aces (0.20/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.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Picked to finish second in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll, Utah State (10-5, 2-2 MW) split two matches on the road last week, sweeping Nevada (25-19, 25-21, 25-12) before dropping a four-set decision at San José State (25-23, 15-25, 22-25, 16-25). With the results, the Aggies find themselves in a tie for fifth place in the conference standings with the Aztecs and Wyoming. USU is 4-1 at home this season and a combined 6-4 in road/neutral matches. Offensively, USU is led by junior outside hitter Tatum Snell, who ranks 10th in the MW with 3.06 kills per set, while senior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch (2.48) and senior opposite Kylee Stokes (2.11) are averaging more than two put-aways per frame. In addition, middle blocker Kennedi Boyd finds herself among the conference leaders, ranking third in blocks (1.18) and sixth in hitting percentage (.336). Along the back row, Jordi Holdaway occupies the fifth spot in the MW with 3.64 digs per set, while setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy ranks ninth in assists (5.44/set). Capllonch and Holdaway have played at two other conference schools during their collegiate careers. Capllonch transferred from UNLV, while Holdaway competed at Boise State for two seasons before sitting out the 2021 fall campaign. As a team, the Aggies find themselves among the top half of the MW in several categories, including service aces (2nd, 1.82/set), assists (3rd, 12.33), kills (4th, 12.96/set) and blocks (4th, 2.22/set). On the national level, USU's 1.82 service aces per set ranks 42nd. The Aggies are under the guidance of third-year head coach Rob Neilson, who arrived on the Logan campus after serving as the lead assistant coach for the U.S. men's national team from 2017-19. Prior to his stint with Team USA, Neilson spent 10 years on the Brigham Young men's volleyball coaching staff, including the final two as the program's associate head coach in 2014-15. In 2011, he served as the Cougars' interim head coach, leading the squad to a 20-8 record and a No. 2 national ranking. Neilson played collegiately at BYU from 2003-06, starting at setter during the 2005 and 2006 campaigns. He was a member of the Cougars' 2004 national championship team and tallied 2,790 assists in his career, which ranks fifth in the BYU record book during the rally scoring era.
> Likewise, Boise State (11-4, 3-1 MW) split its two road matches last week, falling to San José State in four sets (25-16, 10-25, 21-25, 19-25) on Sept. 29, before rebounding with a 3-1 triumph at Nevada two days later (25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 13-25). Prior to the 2022 campaign, the Broncos and SJSU were both slotted third in the Mountain West preseason coaches poll. Boise State is 7-0 on its home floor this year and a combined 4-4 in road/neutral matches. Before locking horns with the Aztecs, the Broncos will entertain Fresno State on Thursday night. Individually, sophomore opposite hitter Paige Bartsch ranks 30th in the country with a conference-leading 4.14 kills per set, while senior outside hitter Lauren Ohlinger is slotted sixth in the MW with 3.45 put-aways per frame. Not to be outdone, junior middle blocker Chey Dey is perched atop the league and ranks 29th nationally with 1.35 blocks per set, while fellow classmate and middle Annie Kaminski occupies the third position in the MW with a .389 hitting percentage, which is also good for 30th in the country. In addition, senior libero Allison Casillas finds herself among the conference leaders in service aces (T-3rd, 0.38/set) and digs (T-9th, 3.42/set), while sophomore setter Ashley Hayden has landed in the fourth spot in assists (9.35/set). Collectively, the Broncos are perched atop the Mountain West with 2.64 blocks per set, good for 22nd in the nation this week, while ranking third in kills (13.07/set) and digs (14.09/set) and fourth in assists (12.26/set) and hitting percentage (.226). Head coach Shawn Garus is in his 14th season in charge of the Boise State program, sporting a 356-283 career record and a 241-159 mark at the school. Garus captured back-to-back Mountain West Coach of the Year honors (2015-16) to go with 2016 AVCA Region Coach of the Year accolades.
ON THE HORIZON
> Following this week's matches, San Diego State will return to "America's Finest City" for a pair of encounters with Wyoming and Colorado State.
> The Aztecs will square off against the Cowgirls on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. PT, before engaging the Rams on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.
Aztecs Prep for Two MW Road Matches This Week
