SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team picked up a much-needed victory on Thursday with a four-set triumph over Boise State (21-25, 25-22, 16-25, 25-22) in a Mountain West clash on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
The Aztecs (8-12, 3-6 MW) overcame an early 1-0 deficit in sets to snap a four-match losing streak and defeat the Broncos (10-9, 6-3 MW) for the fourth time in the last six meetings between the two squads.
SDSU posted a .260 hitting percentage against a Boise State club that limited its previous opponents to a .197 efficiency for the season entering Thursday's encounter. Despite a deficiency in team blocks (9.0 to 6.0), the Aztecs maintained a 54-51 advantage in kills and 4-3 edge in aces to help secure the win.
Individually, San Diego State had three players compile 10 or more kills, including Taylor Underwood, who surpassed the double-digit barrier in that statistic with 13 put-aways, while Mikela Labno launched a season-high 12 non-returnables of her own and hit .458 on the night, committing just one error in 24 swings. In addition, Julia Haynie (.370) floored 10 shots and came up with three blocks, tying Underwood, who finished with three rejections, including one solo effort.
The defense also played a huge part in SDSU's victory, as the Scarlet and Black posted a season-best 72 digs overall, limiting the Broncos to a .170 hitting percentage for the night. Heipua Tautua'a set a season-high with 20 scoops and contributed a solo block, while McKenna Douglas (15), Bailey Darnell (13) and Sarena Gonzalez (10) finished with double figures in digs.
Elsewhere, Fatimah Hall (25 assists) shared the setting chores with Gonzalez (22 assists), who logged her second double-double of the year, while the Aztecs received a pair of clutch contributions from freshmen Campbell Hague (7 kills) and Amber Keen (5 kills) off the bench.
SDSU withstood a 25-kill performance from Boise State's Paige Bartsch, who hit .339 for the night and tied Annie Kaminski for match-high honors with five block assists. Kaminski, who entered the match hitting .319 for the season, was limited to a .190 efficiency after knocking down just eight kills in 21 attempts with four miscues. No other Bronco player finished with more than five kills, as Bridey O'Connor (.000) and Kiersten Van Kirk totaled five and four put-aways, respectively.
Bartsch blasted eight of Boise State's 18 kills in the opening set, hitting .467 for the frame after committing just one error in 15 swings, while O'Connor and Van Kirk totaled three apiece. However, the Broncos were plagued by nine attack errors and four errant serves in that span.
Despite totaling just eight kills themselves in the frame, the Aztecs benefited from Boise State's inconsistency, building a series of five-point leads, including a 16-11 spread following a wayward attack.
However, the visitors caught proverbial lightning in a bottle with a timely 14-5 closing run to steal the set. Bella McGirr and Elle Cotton each served up an ace to spark the blitz, while Bartsch knocked down three kills down the stretch, including the clinching point. Not to be outdone, O'Connor and Kaminski also got into the act with two late put-aways each.
The balanced SDSU offense came to life with 20 kills in the second stanza, while the defense held the Broncos to just 11 put-aways in the frame. Individually, Labno totaled six strikes in the set, followed closely by Underwood (5) and Haynie (4).
After five early ties, the Aztecs maintained the upper hand the rest of the way, opening a 21-14 advantage following a kill by Hague. However, Boise State would not go quietly, crafting an 8-2 spurt to pull within 23-22. Kaminski teamed with Van Kirk and Noelani Helm on a pair of blocks, while Bartsch joined forces with Chey Day on another stop earlier in the run.
Unfazed, the Scarlet and Black weathered the threat, as Haynie powered down a shot, while Bartsch committed an attack error on the ensuing serve, allowing the hosts to tie the match at one set apiece.
SDSU took control in the third frame with a 6-0 outburst to break a 9-9 deadlock. Underwood keyed the run with a pair of blocks, combining with Keen for one stop followed by a solo stuff. In addition, the Aztecs benefited from two other unforced Boise State attack errors and a mishandled set.
In all, the Broncos had their seven kills offset by seven miscues in the set, while the Aztecs launched 13 non-returnables against three errors in 35 attempts for a .286 clip to keep the visitors at bay. SDSU's once again featured a balanced attack, with Underwood, Haynie and Labno each flooring three shots apiece.
With a 15-9 lead safely in tow, the Aztecs would not let up, closing with a 10-7 run to take a 2-1 lead on the set scoreboard. Haynie and Labno keyed the surge with two kills each, with the latter providing the two clinching points.
Despite a 15-13 deficiency in kills during the fourth stanza, SDSU saved its best for last, committing just two errors in 32 swings during the set for a match-best .344 efficiency, while the Broncos posted a .225 clip (15-6-40). Keen took center stage with four kills in the frame, while Hall served up a pair of aces.
The match seemed destined for a fifth set after consecutive kills by Helm and Bartsch gave the visitors a 10-5 advantage. The Aztecs had other ideas, however, manufacturing a crucial 14-4 run to steal the momentum. SDSU totaled three aces in that stretch, including the aforementioned two by Hall and another by Darnell. Additionally, Underwood and Keen blasted two kills apiece, while Boise State shot themselves in the proverbial foot with three wayward attacks and a blocking error.
Suddenly facing a 19-14 deficit, the Broncos twice narrowed the gap to one, including a 23-22 spread following a Van Kirk kill. However, Labno dashed the Boise State comeback hopes with a hot smash, while the visitors committed an attack error on the final serve to end the contest.
Helm led all players with 42 assists, while Breanna Mitchell finished with a match-high 21 digs in the loss.
San Diego State will have little time to savor its victory, as it heads to the Beehive State for a Saturday showdown with Utah State on Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. MT/noon PT. The first-place Aggies (15-5, 8-1 MW) survived a five-set nail-biter at UNLV on Thursday.
Aztecs Rally Past Boise State in Four Sets
