SAN DIEGO – Fresh off a satisfying victory at Wyoming, the San Diego State volleyball team returns to the friendly confines of Aztec Court at Peterson Gym this week for the first two encounters in its final homestand of the 2022 regular season.
The Aztecs will engage Boise State on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. PT before locking horns with Utah State on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m.
In addition to live stats, both contests will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network on GoAztecs.com.
SDSU split two conference showdowns last week, dropping a tough four-set battle at Colorado State on Oct. 27, before posting a 3-1 triumph over Wyoming two days later, snapping a 10-match losing streak to the Cowgirls in Laramie dating back to Sept. 27, 2012.
With their results, the Aztecs (6-17, 4-8 MW) occupy the eighth spot in the conference this week with Nevada, two matches behind a pair of fifth-place squads in Boise State and Wyoming, as the top six teams qualify for the Mountain West Championship later this month.
Against the Cowgirls, four SDSU players surpassed the double-digit kill plateau, including Kayla Rivera, who tied her season best with 13 kills, followed by Madison Corf (11), Heipua Tautua'a (10) and Julia Haynie (10).
SERIES RECORD VS. BOISE STATE
> The Broncos own a slim 12-10 advantage against the Aztecs in a series that dates back to 2005, with the teams knotted at 5-5 in 10 matches played in San Diego.
> San Diego State has dropped the last two meetings, including a 3-1 setback (21-25, 16-25, 25-22, 23-25) on Oct. 8 in Boise.
> Mikela Labno blasted a career-high 16 kills and hit .355 for the match; however, the Broncos maintained the statistical advantage in kills (59-52), hitting percentage (.260 to .210) and team blocks (9.0 to 6.0) to stymie the Aztecs' bid for a third-straight upset in the Idaho state capital.
> In addition to Labno's production, SDSU received nine kills and three block assists from Kayla Rivera, while Heipua Tautua'a launched seven put-aways of her own and tied Ellie Geoghegan for team-high honors with nine dis.
> Kat Cooper (.364) also provided a spark off the bench with six kills, while Julia Haynie (4 kills) added support to the Aztec defense in the middle with three block assists..
> Trailing 0-2 in sets and facing a 21-20 deficit in the third frame, SDSU surged into the lead on consecutive kills by Elly Schraeder and Labno, while Boise State self-destructed down the stretch with two attack errors, including the clinching point for the Aztecs, which kept the match alive.
> The teams combined for 13 ties and seven lead changes in a spirited fourth set, but SDSU could not seize the upper hand after forging a late 23-23 deadlock, as the Broncos scored the final two points on a kill and an Aztec attack error to hold on for the win.
SERIES RECORD VS. UTAH STATE
> Despite dropping three straight to the Aggies, the Aztecs still lead the all-time series 18-10, including a 12-2 mark in San Diego.
> In the last meeting between the two squads, SDSU fell in three sets (19-25, 17-25, 10-25) on Oct. 6 in Logan, Utah.
> The Aztecs were unable to keep pace with Utah State, which out-hit the Scarlet and Black .354 to .080 while maintaining the upper hand in kills (40-29) and team blocks (11.0 to 7.0).
> Individually, SDSU was led by Kayla Rivera's nine kills, while Mikela Labno blasted seven put-aways, followed by Elly Schraeder, who hit .500 on the evening after flooring six of 12 shots without an error.
> The competitive opening set witnessed six ties and three lead changes, as each side collected 13 kills. However, the Aggies totaled four team blocks and were gifted three additional points on unforced Aztec attack errors to keep the visitors at bay.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Julia Haynie is slotted second in the conference with a .372 hitting percentage for all matches and has compiled a .402 efficiency in conference action, where she ranks fifth.
> Elly Schraeder has vaulted into the fifth position for MW matches with 1.11 blocks per set and ranks seventh for all matches with 1.03 rejections per frame.
> Ellie Geoghegan occupies the eighth spot with 3.38 digs per set in league matches and ranks 11th in the conference with 269 digs for the season.
> Noa Miller is also slotted ninth in the league with 5.60 assists per sets against MW competiton.
> 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.
> McKenna Douglas' 26 digs vs. Nevada on Sept. 24 mark the fifth-best total in a four-set match this season in the league.
> Kayla Rivera's .647 hitting percentage (12-1-17) vs. Pepperdine on Sept. 3 is tied for the sixth-best efficiency in the conference this season.
> Schraeder's nine overall blocks vs. Army West Point is tied for the seventh-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 is tied for the fourth-highest total in a four-set match this season, while her 21 put-aways against Air Force are tied for sixth in a four-set contest.
> Collectively, the Aztecs' 71 kills against Nevada is tied for the fourth-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 is tied for the fourth-highest total in the MW for a four-set match this year.
> The Aztecs' 48 kills at Pepperdine is tied for the sixth-best 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 10th-highest total in the conference.
HAYNIE ON THE RISE
> Middle blocker Julia Haynie has started 10 of 12 conference matches thus far, posting a .402 hitting percentage in that span.
> The Aztec senior has powered down 63 kills in 127 attempts with just 12 errors against league opponents.
> Haynie has also recorded 23 total blocks in MW play, including four solo stops.
> In a road match at New Mexico on Oct. 20, Haynie set a career high with a .769 hitting percentage after launching 10 kills in 13 swings without an error. She also established a season best with 7 total blocks vs. the Lobos.
> The Temecula, California, product has recorded multiple blocks in four straight matches and eight for the season.
> With six matches remaining, Haynie needs just 10 more put-aways to set a personal single-season high in that category after finishing with 103 kills in 2021.
> For the season, she ranks second in the Mountain West with a .372 efficiency and is currently third on the squad with 31 total blocks.
SHE'S BACK
> Outside hitter Heipua Tautua'a has regained her swagger over the past three matches, averaging 3.00 kills and 3.00 digs per set, both of which rank second on the team.
> The SDSU junior recorded has double-digit kills in her last three starts, including consecutive double-doubles vs. Air Force (12 kills, 15 digs) and at Colorado State (14 kills, 15 digs), with her 14 put-aways against the Rams matching a season high.
> Tautua'a also contributed five service aces and five total blocks during that stretch.
> Against Wyoming, the Wai'anae, Hawai'I, native helped the Aztecs beat the Cowgirls on the road for the first time since 2012 after posting 10 kills, six digs and one ace.
> For the season, Tautua'a leads the Aztecs with five double-doubles while ranking third in kills (2.29/set) and digs (2.09/set).
NEWCOMERS SHINE
> Seven of eight Aztec newcomers have seen action for the Scarlet and Black this season, with several providing key contributions through 23 matches.
> Freshman Madison Corf has started 17 of 23 matches and leads the team with 2.60 kills per set and 203 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 14th-best performance in the Mountain West this season and is tied for the fourth-highest total in a four-set match. Corf has recorded double-digit kills in nine matches thus far, including 11 put-aways in her last outing at Wyoming on Oct. 29, when she logged her highest hitting percentage of the year, committing just three errors in 29 swings for a .381 efficiency. Corf also logged her first collegiate double-double with 15 kills and 11 digs vs. Colorado State on Oct. 15.
> A senior transfer from Georgia, Kayla Rivera has started 21 of 23 matches for SDSU and has climbed into the second spot on the team in kills (200) and kills per set (2.33) while holding down the No. 2 position in total blocks (63.0) and blocks per set (0.73). The Aztec opposite hitter has blasted double-digit kills in three straight matches for the first time this year at New Mexico (10), vs. Air Force (11) and at Wyoming, where she equaled her season high with 13 kills and came through with three blocks. The Ventura, California, native accounted for the final two points of the match with a kill and solo block in the fourth set, leading the Aztecs to their first victory over the Cowgirls on the road since 2012. Earlier, Rivera 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 powered down 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 269 overall digs, which ranks 11th in the MW. The Manhattan Beach product has surpassed the double-digit plateau in that category in six straight matches and on 13 occasions overall, highlighted by a season-high 24 scoops at New Mexico on Oct. 22. She also contributed 23 scoops vs. Air Force two days later, earning MW Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week honors. Geoghegan has also recorded 17 of her 21 service aces for the season in her last 14 appearances, tying her career best with three vs. Wyoming on Oct. 13.
> In her first season on The Mesa after transferring from USD, sophomore middle blocker Elly Schraeder has started all 22 matches she has played, leading the team with 79 total blocks and 1.03 blocks per set, the latter of which ranks seventh in the Mountain West. The Athol, Idaho, native has flashed her versatility over the past three matches, combining for 22 kills (1.83/set) and 17 blocks (1.42/set). Against Air Force on Oct. 22, she posted a season-best . 467 hitting percentage (min. 7 kills), blasting eight kills on 15 attempts against one error to go with five block assists. The following week, she helped the Scarlet and Black defeat Wyoming on the road for the first time since 2012 after matching her season high with eight additional put-aways while contributing seven blocks, including a solo stop. Earlier in the season vs. Army on Aug. 27, Schraeder registered a career-high nine blocks, including a solo stuff, while hitting .375 on eight kills in 16 swings with just two errors.
> A starter in 10 of 20 appearances, freshman middle blocker Kat Cooper ranks fourth on the team with 29 total blocks and 0.48 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 4.85 assists per set. A starter in 11 of 23 matches, the Temecula product has dished at least 20 assists in seven appearances, including a season-high 31 helpers at Wyoming on Oct 29, as the Aztecs defeated the Cowgirls in Laramie for the first time since 2012. In addition, Gonzalez has 76 digs (0.94/set) and 10 aces (0.13/set) to her credit, including a season-best eight digs at Colorado State on Oct. 27. She also spun three aces on consecutive serves in the fourth set against Maryland at the Aztec Classic on Sept. 9.
> Despite missing 13 matches this season, freshman libero McKenna Douglas ranks second on 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.
ODDS & ENDS
> With its four-set triumph over Wyoming on Oct. 29, San Diego State recorded the 900th victory in program history. Dating back to 1976, the Aztecs own an all-time record of 900-658 in almost 47 seasons of varsity volleyball competition.
> Against the Cowgirls, the Aztecs posted more team blocks than their opponent (12.0 to 5.0) for just the fourth time this season, improving to 3-1 in that statistical situation.
> In addition, five of SDSU's six wins this year have been registered on a Saturday.
> Ellie Geoghegan had her streak of nine matches with at least one ace snapped in a four-set loss at Colorado State on Oct. 27.
> Kayla Rivera had at least one block to her credit in the first 18 matches of the season before that streak was halted at home vs. the same CSU squad on Oct. 15.
> All six of the Aztecs' victories have been recorded with the Aztecs maintaining the statistical advantage in kills and hitting percentage.
> San Diego State is 4-0 this season when holding a 2-1 lead after three sets.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Boise State (14-9, 6-6 MW) have lost three straight to slip into a tie for fifth place in the Mountain West standings with Wyoming. Last week, the Broncos experienced a pair of home defeats, falling to Utah State (25-12, 20-25, 14-25, 19-25) before suffering a sweep at the hands of league leader UNLV (18-25, 19-25, 17-25). Boise State is 9-3 on its home floor this year and a combined 5-6 in road/neutral matches. Offensively, sophomore opposite hitter Paige Bartsch ranks 51st in the country with a conference-leading 3.95 kills per set, while senior outside hitter Lauren Ohlinger is slotted sixth in the MW with 3.37 put-aways per frame. Ohlinger also leads the conference in service aces (36) and aces per set (0.40), which ranks 54th and 84th in the country, respectively. Not to be outdone, junior middle blocker Annie Kaminski is perched atop the league and ranks 19th nationally with a .399 hitting percentage, while fellow classmate and middle Chey Dey occupies the second position in the MW with 1.19 blocks per set, which is also good for 67th in the country. In addition, sophomore setter Ashley Hayden finds herself among the conference leaders in assists (9.76/set), while senior libero Allison Casillas is slotted seventh in the MW in digs (3.28/set) and eighth in service aces (0.33/set). Collectively, the Broncos enter the week in the league's third position with 2.33 blocks per set, which ranks 75th in the nation. Boise State also finds itself among the top half of the Mountain West in most other statistical categories, including service aces (3rd, 1.57/set), kills (4th, 12.94/set), assists (4th, 12.09/set) and hitting percentage (5th, .220). Head coach Shawn Garus is in his 14th season in charge of the Boise State program, sporting a 359-288 career record and a 244-168 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.
> After defeating the Aztecs on Oct. 6, Saturday's opponent Utah State (15-8, 7-5 MW) has posted a 4-3 record, including a split of two matches last week. The Aggies topped Boise State on the road in four sets on Oct. 25 (12-25, 25-20, 25-14, 25-19) before dropping a 3-2 heartbreaker at home to conference front-runner UNLV four days later (24-26, 25-15, 25-18, 24-26, 8-15). With the results, USU finds itself in fourth place in this week's Mountain West standings. The Aggies sport a 7-3 record at home and an 8-5 mark in road/neutral contests. Prior to Saturday's clash at San Diego State, USU will pay a visit to Fresno State on Thursday night. Offensively, USU is led by junior outside hitter Tatum Snell, who ranks 13th in the MW with 3.07 kills per set, while senior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch (2.28) and senior opposite Kylee Stokes (2.16) are averaging more than two put-aways per frame. Along the back row, Jordi Holdaway occupies the fifth spot in the league with 3.74 digs per set, while setter Leah Wilton-LaBoy, the reigning MW Freshman of the Week, ranks ninth in assists (5.36/set). In addition, middle blocker Kennedi Boyd finds herself among the conference leaders, ranking sixth in blocks (1.09/set) and seventh in hitting percentage (.337). Snell is also tied for fourth in the league in service aces (0.33/set), while Capllonch is ninth (0.32/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 lead the Mountain West with 1.73 service aces per set, which ranks 50th in the nation. USU also occupies the third spot in the league in assists (12.20/set), as well as the fourth position in blocks (2.28/set), which rank 81st and 89th in the country, respectively. The Aggies are also third in the MW this week in kills (12.94/set) and sixth in hitting percentage (.218). Utah State is under the direction 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.
ON THE HORIZON
> Following Saturday's clash, San Diego State continues its busy stretch with two more home matches next week, battling Fresno State on Monday, Nov. 7, at 5 p.m. PT, before engaging conference leader UNLV on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m.
> The Aztecs close out the second half of their Mountain West schedule in the inverse order of teams they faced in the first half of their conference slate.
Aztecs Open Homestand vs. Boise State, Utah State
