SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team had its moments against the nation's sixth-ranked team on Thursday but could not complete the upset, falling to visiting Oregon in four sets (19-25, 15-25, 25-22, 10-25) in the opening match of the SDSU Invitational on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
With the loss, the Aztecs (1-3) suffered their third straight defeat and dropped to 4-7 in 11 all-time meetings vs. the Ducks (4-0), who kept their unblemished season record intact.
SDSU trailed in most statistical categories, including kills (52-46), hitting percentage (.333 to .215), digs (40-33) and team blocks (10.0 to 6.0). In addition, the Aztecs self-destructed at inopportune times, committing 11 service errors, including five in the first set alone, which frequently derailed momentum.
SDSU handed Oregon its first set loss of the year in the third frame after limiting the Ducks to a .000 hitting percentage with nine kills against nine errors in 32 swings while serving up three aces.
However, the Aztecs experienced a reversal of fortune in the fourth stanza, posting a minus-.071 efficiency with six put-aways against eight miscues on 28 attempts, while visitors pulled away with a .440 clip (14-3-25) to secure the match.
Individually, SDSU was paced by Taylor Underwood, who blasted 11 kills and hit .375 for the night, recording just two errors on 24 attempts, while Heipua Tautua'a just missed a double-double after launching nine non-returnables and scooping up a team-high nine digs.
In addition, the Aztec cause was aided by the duo of Campbell Hague (6 kills) and Mikela Labno (5 kills), both of whom did not commit an attack error, finishing with a combined .524 efficiency between the two players.
Elsewhere, Sarena Gonzalez (21 assists) and Fatimah Hall (17 assists) split the setting chores, while Kat Cooper and Elly Schraeder totaled three blocks apiece, with the latter providing a solo stop.
The two teams slugged it out through the early stages of the opening set, combining for a whopping 13 ties, including a 13-13 deadlock following a Tautua'a kill. However, an ill-timed SDSU service error ignited a 4-0 spurt to put the Ducks in front for good. Oregon also benefited from an Aztec ball-handling error, while Colby Neal knocked down a kill and Gabby Gonzales served up an ace in that stretch.
SDSU was unable to trim the margin to less than three points the rest of the way, as another errant service followed by Gonzales' second ace clinched the set for the visitors.
The Ducks raced to a 10-4 lead in the second stanza before the Scarlet and Black responded with an 8-4 run of its own to narrow the gap to 14-12. Underwood launched two kills during that stretch, while Tautua'a and Cooper each floored a shot. In addition, Schraeder and Hague combined on a block, while the Aztecs also benefited from a pair of Oregon attack errors.
Trailing 14-12, SDSU could not draw any closer, however, as the Ducks fashioned an 11-3 closing run to keep the host school at bay. Gonzales had six kills of her 12 kills for the match in the second set alone, as Oregon posted its highest efficiency of the night with a .519 clip, thanks to 17 put-aways against just three errors in 27 swings.
With their backs against the proverbial ropes, the Aztecs managed to extend the match after out-hitting the Ducks .296 to .000 in the third frame. Underwood took center stage with five kills and two aces in the set, while Labno provided a spark off the bench with three non-returnables of her own.
The two sides witnessed 10 ties in the stanza, including an 18-18 deadlock, before Underwood blasted a kill and serve up an ace to spark a 7-4 closing surge. Hague knocked down two kills down the stretch, while Labno provided the clincher with a strong put-away to keep the match alive.
However, any hopes for an Aztec comeback were short-circuited in the fourth set, as Oregon raced to a 16-6 lead and was never threatened. Mimi Colyer led the Ducks with four kills in the frame, while Karson Bacon recorded three block assists.
Colyer completed a double-double for the match, leading all players with 13 kills and 10 digs, while Bacon racked up six block assists on the evening. In addition, Hannah Pukis dished out a match-high 43 assists, while Gonzales finished with 12 kills in the win.
The SDSU Invitational continues on Friday when the Aztecs battle Pepperdine, starting at 6:30 p.m. The Waves (0-3) fell to UC Santa Barbara in five sets at home on Thursday.
Aztecs Upended by No. 6 Oregon in Four Sets
