SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team has its sights set on postseason glory this week when it opens the Mountain West Championship with a quarterfinal match against tournament host Colorado State on Wednesday, Nov. 23, in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Aztecs-Rams clash is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. MT/3 p.m. PT, with links to live stats and streaming video via the Mountain West Network available on GoAztecs.com. Fans can also watch the action on their smartphones or TVs by downloading the MW app from the iOS App Store or Google Play.
SDSU clinched the sixth and final seed in the conference tournament after posting a pair of dramatic four-set road victories at Nevada (26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 25-16) and San José State (25-23, 25-20, 22-25, 26-24) last week.
If the Aztecs defeat CSU, they will face SJSU in the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. MT/3 p.m. PT. The Spartans earned a bye in the quarterfinals by virtue of their second-place finish in MW play.
Top-seeded UNLV, the league's regular-season champion, will await the victor of the other quarterfinal showdown between fifth-seeded New Mexico and No. 4 seed Utah State.
The two semifinal winners will battle for the MW Championship and the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 25, starting at 6:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. PT.
SDSU IN THE MW CHAMPIONSHIP
> The 2022 campaign marks the Aztecs' first trip to the MW Championship since the tournament was reinstated in its current format following the 2021 fall season.
> SDSU owns a 5-10 record in all-time MW Championship appearances. The league's postseason tournament was held on an annual basis from 1999-2007 before returning for one season in 2011 after a three-year absence.
> The Aztecs are 5-5 in MW first-round matchups. SDSU dropped a three-set decision to UNLV (20-25, 27-29, 23-25) in its last opening-round clash in 2011 at Albuquerque, New Mexico.
> SDSU has faced Colorado State four times in the second round at the Mountain West Championship but has fallen short on every occasion, including a tough five-set defeat (30-28, 26-30, 16-30, 30-27, 10-15) during the 30-point scoring era in 2003 when the Aztecs played host to the event.
> The SDSU volleyball program has traveled to Fort Collins for the conference tournament in three different years (2000, 2002 and 2004) posting a combined 2-3 record.
> The Aztecs were swept in their lone meeting vs. Colorado State at Moby Arena in MW tournament play (12-15, 12-15, 5-15) during the side-out scoring era in 2000.
SERIES RECORD VS. COLORADO STATE/LAST MEETING
> The Rams lead the all-time series 48-17.
> The Aztecs dropped a four-set decision at Colorado State (25-21, 23-25, 20-25, 18-25) in the last meeting between the two squads on Oct. 27.
> In that contest, the teams were evenly matched on the stat sheet, with the Rams maintaining a slight edge in kills (53-50) and team blocks (13.0 to 11.0) to help keep the Scarlet and Black at bay.
> SDSU was led by Heipua Tautua'a, who notched her second straight double-double with 14 kills and 15 digs, while Kayla Rivera launched 11 put-aways of her own, equaling her career high with seven total blocks, including a solo stop.
> Tautua'a and Rivera each served up an ace, while Madison Corf just missed out on a double-double as well after posting nine kills and nine digs.
> The Aztec cause was also advanced by Elly Schraeder, who finished with six kills and six block assists, while Ellie Geoghegan scooped up 13 digs.
> The two sides plodded through a sluggish opening set, combining for just 19 kills against 16 attack errors. Corf and Tautua'a led the Aztecs with three kills apiece in the frame, while Julia Haynie added two blocks, including a solo stuff.
> Trailing 10-9, SDSU reeled off an 8-1 blitz to vault in front for good. Kills by Corf, Schraeder and Rivera fueled the run, while Tautua'a twirled her two aces on consecutive serves.
> Shortly thereafter, the Aztecs reclaimed a six-point advantage at 20-14 following a Mikela Labno kill and a combined block by Rivera and Haynie.
> However, CSU received consecutive solo blocks to cap a 6-1 spurt, which narrowed the gap to 21-20.
> Unfazed, SDSU called timeout and closed with a 4-1 rush, benefiting from two errant serves sandwiched around kills by Tautua'a and Noa Miller to capture their only set of the night.
SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the week, Julia Haynie ranks third in the MW with a .398 hitting percentage for conference matches and a .377 efficiency for the season overall.
> Elly Schraeder remains in the third position for MW matches with 1.23 blocks per set and ranks fifth for all contests with 1.12 rejections per frame.
> Ellie Geoghegan occupies the sixth spot with 3.53 digs per set in league matches and ranks seventh with 3.27 scoops per frame for the season.
> Noa Miller is also slotted ninth in the league with 5.87 assists per sets against MW competition.
> 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-dig effort vs. Nevada on Sept. 24 ranks second for a four-set MW match this season.
> Madison Corf's .667 hitting percentage (15-1-21) vs. Fresno State on Nov. 7 marks the fifth-best efficiency in the conference this season (min. 12 kills).
> Meanwhile, Schraeder's nine overall blocks vs. Army West Point is tied for the seventh-best figure in the MW this season and represents the most by an SDSU competitor since Lexie Hamrick's 11 rejections against UTEP on Sept. 15, 2018.
> Kayla Rivera's .647 hitting percentage (12-1-17) vs. Pepperdine on Sept. 3 is tied for the eighth-best clip in the league this year.
> Corf's 22 kills vs. Nevada is tied for the fifth-highest total in a four-set match this year, while her 21 put-aways against Air Force are tied for eighth 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' 14 team blocks vs. Army is tied for the 12th-highest total in the conference.
AZTECS PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME
> While other conference schools have faded down the stretch, San Diego State has found itself in an upward trajectory in the second half of its league schedule, posting a 6-3 record in its last nine matches.
> During that span, the Aztecs have averaged two kills more per set than their opponents (13.85 to 11.85), maintaining a 471-403 advantage in that statistic overall.
> Conversely, opponents held a 922-900 edge in kills (12.46 to 12.16 kills/set) over the first 20 matches of the year and outhit the Scarlet and Black .262 to .174.
> Over its last nine outings, San Diego State has narrowed the gap in hitting percentage, posting a .221 efficiency, compared to a .228 clip for the opposition.
> Additionally, the Aztecs have trimmed their deficiency in blocks per set during that stretch, averaging 2.26 rejections per frame, compared to a 2.47 pace by opponents.
> On the flip side, SDSU was averaging just 1.78 blocks per set over the first 20 matches, while its adversaries maintained a rate of 3.01 stops per frame.
> Not to be outdone, the Aztecs have witnessed more productive serves of late, averaging 1.59 aces per set to go with a .904 serve percentage over the last nine matches, compared to a clip of 1.24 and a .897 percentage for the first 20 contests of the year.
HAYNIE ON THE RISE
> Middle blocker Julia Haynie has started 16 of 18 conference matches this season, posting a .398 hitting percentage, which ranks third in the MW.
> The Aztec senior has powered down 95 kills in 191 attempts with just 19 errors against league opponents.
> Haynie has also recorded 33 total blocks in MW play, including five solo stops.
> In the final two matches of the regular season at Nevada and San José State, the Temecula, California, product combined for 20 kills (2.50/set) and hit with a .529 efficiency (20-2-34), helping SDSU secure a spot in the MW Championship.
> Against Nevada, Haynie tied her personal best with 11 kills before posting a career-high seven digs at SJSU two days later.
> In a road match at New Mexico on Oct. 20, Haynie established a career high with a .769 hitting percentage after launching 10 kills in 13 swings without an error. She also set a season best with seven total blocks vs. the Lobos.
> The former Portland State transfer has recorded multiple blocks in 10 matches this year.
> For the season, Haynie ranks third in the Mountain West with a .377 efficiency and is currently third on the squad with 41 total blocks.
SCHRAEDER STYLIN'
> Middle blocker Elly Schraeder has ramped up her production over the last nine matches, averaging 1.47 blocks and 1.76 kills per set while hitting at a .376 clip.
> The SDSU sophomore has powered down 60 kills in 129 attempts during that stretch with just 15 errors.
> Additionally, Schraeder has totaled at least four blocks in those nine starts
> Against Fresno State on Nov. 7, the Athol, Idaho, native blasted nine kills with a season-best .667 hitting percentage, committing one error in 12 swings. She also set a collegiate high with three digs vs. the Bulldogs.
> Schraeder completed consecutive matches against UNLV and Nevada without an error, smashing 15 kills on 27 attempts for a .556 efficiency. In that latter contest, she tied her career best with nine kills.
SCHEDULE NAVIGATION
> San Diego State finished with an 8-10 record in Mountain West play this season after logging a 2-9 mark through a difficult non-conference slate.
> During their non-league schedule, the Aztecs faced four foes that appeared or were receiving votes in the AVCA poll at match time, including No. 8 San Diego, No. 9 Baylor, Pepperdine (rv), UCLA (rv), along with additional Power 5 opponents Maryland and Arizona. Pepperdine climbed to as high as No. 22 in the AVCA rankings this season, while UCLA opened at No. 12 in the AVCA preseason poll and was ranked in the first two weeks of the regular season prior to its clash at SDSU.
> Similarly, the Aztecs have faced 12 opponents that are currently listed among the top 100 in the sixth NCAA Women's Volleyball RPI of the season released on Nov. 14, including San Diego (No. 9), Baylor (No. 15), UNLV (No. 21), Pepperdine (No. 43), Colorado State (No. 47), UCLA (No. 64), Utah State (No. 69), San José State (No. 79), New Mexico (No. 88), UC Santa Barbara (No. 92), Arizona (No. 99), and Army West Point (100).
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 902-658 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.
> Six of SDSU's 10 wins this year have been registered on a Saturday.
> Elly Schraeder has totaled at least four blocks in nine straight matches and has come up with at least one rejection in 11 consecutive appearances.
> Noa Miller has served up at least one ace in five of her last six matches and nine of her last 11 contests, including three apiece vs. Boise State and Utah State at home.
> Heipua Tautua'a leads the Scarlet and Black with six double-doubles on the year.
> Ellie Geoghegan has recorded double-digit dig totals in 10 of her last 12 matches, including a career-high 24 scoops at New Mexico on Oct. 20. She also set a collegiate best with four aces vs. Fresno State on Nov. 7.
> All 10 of the Aztecs' victories have been recorded with SDSU maintaining the statistical advantage in kills and hitting percentage.
> San Diego State is 7-0 this season when holding a 2-1 lead after three sets.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Colorado State (19-10, 12-6 MW) earned the No. 3 seed at the Mountain Championship this week after finishing behind UNLV (26-3, 17-1 MW) and San José State (20-8, 14-3 MW) in the conference race during the regular season. Since defeating the Aztecs in Fort Collins on Oct. 27, the Rams have posted a 3-4 record, capped by a 3-1 loss at UNLV (20-25, 25-22, 17-25, 12-25) in the regular-season finale on Nov. 19. During the 2022 campaign, Picked first in the MW preseason coaches poll, CSU has compiled an 11-5 record at home and a combined 8-5 ledger in road/neutral matches. Offensively, junior outside hitter Kennedy Stanford leads the Rams with 3.13 kills per set (341 overall), which ranks 10th in the league, while sophomore middle blocker Malaya Jones (2.71), senior outside hitter Annie Sullivan (2.39), and junior middle blocker Karina Leber (2.18), and are all averaging over two put-aways per frame. Entering the week, senior setter Ciera Pritchard (9.51 assists per set) and junior middle blocker Naeemah Weathers (.377 hitting percentage) are both slotted fourth in their respective statistical categories, while along the back row, freshman defensive specialist Kate Yoshimoto occupies the eighth position in the conference with 3.24 digs per set. As a team, CSU leads the MW with a .270 hitting percentage and finds itself near the middle of the back in kills (4th, 12.0/set) and assists (6th, 11.70/set), but ranks just ninth in blocks (9th, 2.15/set) and 10th in digs (12.38/set). The Rams are coached by Tom Hilbert, who has guided CSU 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 stands at 811-235, including a 637-163 mark at Colorado State.
Aztecs to Battle CSU in MW Quarterfinals
