SDSU Set for Road Matches at Fresno State, Nevada

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team returns to its role as road warriors this week when it travels to Fresno State and Nevada for a pair of Mountain West matches.
 
The Aztecs will battle the Bulldogs on Thursday, Oct. 12 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, before continuing to the Silver State on Saturday, Oct. 14 for a clash with the Wolf Pack at Virginia Street Gym in Reno, Nevada. The SDSU-Fresno State match gets underway at 6 p.m. PT, while the Aztecs' encounter with Nevada is slated for a noon start.
 
Both contests will feature live stats, while Thursday's engagement with the Bulldogs will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network on GoAztecs.com and on the MW app.
 
San Diego State dropped two home matches last week, falling to Air Force in a 3-2 heartbreaker (23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 20-25, 13-15) on Oct. 5, before losing to New Mexico in four sets (25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 9-25) on Oct. 7.
 
With their results, the Aztecs (7-10, 2-4 MW) find themselves in a four-way tie for seventh in the Mountain West standings along with Wyoming, San José State and Thursday's opponent Fresno State.
 
Against Air Force, Taylor Underwood posted a stellar .481 efficiency, blasting a career-high 31 kills, which represents the highest figure in the Mountain West this season. In addition, the Aztec opposite hitter set a school record for put-aways in the rally scoring era (since 2001) and logged the highest kill total by an SDSU player since Martina Vitkova-Engels (37) and Carrie Mapes (33) combined for 70 non-returnables in the Aztecs' five-set triumph over Wyoming in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament during the sideout era on Nov. 25, 1997.
 
Along with Underwood's heroics, Heipua Tautua'a tied her season best with 13 kills, while Haynie launched a season-high 12 put-aways finishing with a .562 efficiency after committing just three miscues in 16 swings.
 
Collectively, the Aztecs owned a sizable statistical advantage in kills (77-61) and digs (60-46) while maintaining the edge in hitting percentage (.304 to .289) and service aces (4-3). However, the Falcons recorded more team blocks (9.0 to 3.0) and benefited from 19 unforced errant attacks by SDSU. After hitting .234 during the first three sets, Air Force also posted a .389 attack percentage over the final two frames, totaling just four miscues in that span to complete the comeback and escape with the win.
 
Against New Mexico, the Aztecs captured the first set, out-hitting the Lobos .220 to .077, while maintaining the upper hand in kills 15-9. However, UNM posted a .325 efficiency the rest of the way, combining for just five attack errors against 32 kills in 83 attempts to win its third straight.
 
Individually, Underwood added to her team-leading totals, launching a match-high 16 kills and contributing three block assists, while Tautua'a reached double figures in the former category with 10 put-aways of her own.
 
Additionally, Fatimah Hall and Sarena Gonzalez each recorded a double-double while sharing the setting chores. Hall notched her third straight double-double and fourth of the season with 23 assists and 10 digs, while Gonzalez accomplished the feat for the first time this year after totaling 14 helpers and 13 scoops.
 
As of Oct. 11, Taylor Underwood is slotted third in the Mountain West for all matches in service aces (0.42/set) and 12th in kills (2.93/set), while middle blocker Julia Haynie ranks fifth with a .364 hitting percentage.
 
In addition, libero McKenna Douglas has landed in the eighth spot this week in digs (3.62/set), while setter Fatimah Hall has climbed into the 10th position in assists (5.75/set). Douglas has posted double-digit digs in her last seven matches (3.83/set), including a season-high 23 scoops against New Mexico, while Hall has logged three straight double-doubles, averaging 6.61 assists and 2.54 digs in that span.
 
In Mountain West matches, Douglas has vaulted into the fourth spot in the league with 3.81 digs per set, while Underwood (3.38 kills/set) and Hall (6.12 assists/set) rank sixth and ninth in their respective categories.
 
Collectively, San Diego State sits among the top of half the conference in two statistics for all matches this week, ranking second in assists (12.26/set) and fourth in kills (13.13/set). In addition, the Aztecs are slotted seventh in hitting percentage (.209), eighth in service aces (1.38/set) and ninth in digs (12.48/set).
 
In MW matches, SDSU ranks second in assists (12.23/set), third in kills (13.04/set) and fifth in digs (13.15/set).
 
On the national level, the Scarlet and Black occupies the 61st position with 12.26 assists per set and the 70th spot with 13.13 kills per set as of Oct. 11. In the second RPI ratings of the year, San Diego State ranks No. 143 in the nation, one of seven Mountain West teams in the top 150 along with Utah State (24), Colorado State (84), UNLV (91), Air Force (113), Wyoming (119) and New Mexico (133).
 
The Aztecs' total of 77 team kills and 75 assists vs. Air Force are the highest single-match totals in the conference so far this season, while their 50 put-aways and 48 helpers at UCSD are tied for the second-best figures in the league for a three-set contest this year.
 
As mentioned earlier, Underwood's 31 kills against Air Force last week marked the best performance in the Mountain West this year, while her career-high five aces against both Denver and Eastern Washington are tied for the fifth-best output in the conference this season. In addition, Fatimah Hall's 47 assists vs. Cal State Fullerton in the season opener are tied for the fifth-highest total in a four-set match.
 
Underwood, Douglas and Hall are the only Aztecs to play all 61 sets this season, while Tautua'a and Gonzalez have missed just one and four sets, respectively.
 
SDSU owns a 4-5 record in matches following a loss this season. In addition, the Aztecs are 1-3 in Thursday contests and 3-4 when playing on a Saturday this year.
 
Picked to finish last in the 2023 Mountain West preseason coaches poll, Fresno State (8-9, 2-4 MW) remains tied for seventh in the conference standings despite dropping three straight road matches, including two last weekend. The Bulldogs were blanked at Boise State (15-25, 16-25, 18-25) before suffering a similar fate at conference co-leader Utah State (16-25, 23-25, 18-25).
 
Fresno State posted a 6-5 mark in non-conference play, featuring a 2-1 mark at the Central Cal Challenge in Stockton, California, where the Bulldogs defeated Sacramento State and CSU Bakersfield after falling to host Pacific in the opener. Fresno State has played just three home matches this season, posting a 2-1 record while combining for a 6-8 ledger on road/neutral courts.
 
Offensively, the Bulldogs are led by middle blocker Addison Haluska, who ranks fifth in the Mountain West for all matches with 3.40 kills per set, while fellow middle Grace Doyle (2.38) and outside hitter Ella Rud (2.36) are also averaging over two kills per set for the season. Additionally, Haluska is slotted fourth in the conference in service aces (0.37/set), while Rud occupies the sixth position (0.35/set) in that category.
 
Entering the weekend, setter Brooke Cowie (9.32 assists/set) and libero Dionii Fraga (4.34 digs/set) rank third in the MW in their respective statistics, while Kasey Purrey (1.12/set) and Doyle (1.09/set) find themselves among the conference top 10 in blocks, ranking sixth and ninth, respectively.
 
Defensively, Fresno State is slotted fourth in the MW in both team blocks (2.47/set) and digs (14.13/set), as well as opponent efficiency (.192). However, the Bulldogs are just 10th in the conference this week in kills (11.63/set) and hitting percentage (.184).
 
Nationally, Fresno State is tied for 24th in team blocks (168.0) while ranking 43rd in blocks per set (2.47) as of Oct. 11.
 
The Bulldogs are led by first-year head coach Leisa Rosen, who spent the previous 24 seasons as an assistant at Michigan, including 22 years as associate head coach. During her tenure on the Ann Arbor campus, Rosen coached 12 All-Americans and helped coach the Wolverines to postseason play on 19 occasions. In that stretch, Michigan compiled 468 victories, including 66 wins over top-25 opponents, and was ranked or received votes in the AVCA Top 25 poll in each of the last 14 seasons.
 
After sweeping both matches against Fresno State last year, San Diego State leads the all-time varsity series 35-17 dating back to 1976.
 
In their last visit to the Central Valley, the Aztecs posted their first road sweep over Fresno State since 1996 with a 3-0 whitewash (25-18, 25-21, 25-21) at Save Mart Center on Sept. 27, 2022.
 
Collectively, SDSU recorded its highest hitting percentage of the 2022 campaign (.349), maintaining a 42-38 advantage in kills while tying a season best with10 service aces to help spark its victory.
 
Among Aztec returners, Mikela Labno posted a team-high 12 kills, while Julia Haynie hit .636 for the evening after launching seven non-returnables of her own in 11 attempts without an error. Elsewhere, Elly Schraeder displayed a .444 efficiency, flooring six shots in nine swings with just two miscues, while Douglas finished with five digs, as SDSU owned a 27-22 edge in that statistical category.
 
Prior to facing the Aztecs on Saturday, Nevada will play host to UNLV on Thursday night in Reno. The Wolf Pack (4-13, 0-6 MW) are winless in conference play and have lost seven straight overall after coming up empty on the road last weekend at Utah State (11-21, 21-25, 20-25) and Boise State (11-25, 24-26, 14-25). Nevada has not tasted victory since beating Montana State 3-1 in its own tournament on Sept. 14.
 
Offensively, Nevada has been paced by Sia Liilii, who ranks ninth in the MW in kills (3.10/set) for all matches, while fellow outside hitters Nicanora Clarke (2.97) and Gabby McLaughlin (2.64) are also averaging over two put-aways per set. Additionally, Clarke (0.36/set) and Liilii (0.33/set) find themselves among the conference top 10 in service aces, ranking fifth and seventh, respectively.
 
Not to be outdone, libero Hikialani Kaohelaulii tops the league with 4.74 digs/set, which ranks 36th in the country, while middle blocker Jordan Schwartz (1.29 blocks/set) and setter Tehya Maeva (7.50 assists/set) are slotted third and sixth in the MW in their respective statistical categories.
 
As a team, the Wolf Pack are situated among the conference leaders in several categories, ranking second in digs (15.06/set), third in service aces (1.65/set) and fifth in blocks (2.45/set). However, Nevada is last in kills (11.06/set) and hitting percentage (.164).
 
On the national stage, the Wolf Pack rank 52nd in blocks per set and 85th in digs per set as of Oct. 11.
 
Nevada is coached by Lee Nelson, who is in his ninth season on the Reno campus after spending three years as an assistant at Miami (Fla.) from 2012-14. Prior to his stint with the Hurricanes, Nelson was the associate head coach of the men's program at UC Santa Barbara. His career record stands at 90-149.
 
The Aztecs boast a 15-6 record vs. Nevada in 21 all-time meetings dating back to 2011. SDSU has won four straight against the Wolf Pack, including a key 3-1 triumph (26-24, 25-23, 20-25, 25-16) in the penultimate match of the 2022 regular season in Reno.
 
Despite trailing in team blocks (10.0 to 7.0) and service aces (8-5) and committing more attack errors (28-18), the Aztecs had their arms swinging, maintaining a decisive 64-42 advantage in kills to help fuel their win and keep their postseason hopes alive. Coupled with that victory, SDSU would go on to defeat San José State two days later in the regular-season finale to clinch a spot in the Mountain West tournament.
 
Among Aztec returners, Tautua'a racked up 13 kills in that match, while Julia Haynie set a season-best with 11 put-aways, hitting .556 for the night with one error in 18 attempts.
 
Elsewhere, Madison Corf and Schraeder got into the act with nine kills apiece. Corf just missed out on a double-double with a collegiate-high 19 digs, while Schraeder tied for match-high honors with five blocks, including a pair of solo stops.
 
SDSU saved its best for last, posting a .464 hitting percentage in the fourth set, launching 17 kills in 28 attempts with just four errors. Tautua'a led the Aztecs with five put-aways in the frame.
 
Following Saturday's clash at Nevada, San Diego State will split two matches between home and the road next week, playing host to Boise State on Thursday, Oct. 19, before visiting Utah State on Saturday, Oct. 21.