SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team was unable to build on a one-set lead Thursday, ultimately dropping a 3-1 decision to Wyoming (25-19, 22-25, 16-25, 27-29) in a Mountain West clash inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
After posting a stellar .415 efficiency in the opening set, the Aztecs hit just .165 (35-18-103) over the final three frames to fall to 9-17 on the year and 4-11 in conference play, while the Cowgirls registered a .326 clip during that stretch (49-16-101) to help earn a season split and raise their record to 18-8 and 7-8 in MW action.
The two sides finished with five team blocks each; however, Wyoming out-hit the Scarlet and Black .293 to .236 for the night, maintaining a slight edge in kills (58-55), service aces (9-6) and digs (52-50) to escape with the victory.
Individually, the Aztecs were paced by Taylor Underwood and Heipua Tautua'a, who totaled 11 kills and two service aces each, while McKenna Douglas collected a match-high 17 digs. In addition, the SDSU cause was aided by Fatimah Hall, who logged her fifth double-double of the year with 26 assists and 12 digs, splitting the setting chores with Sarena Gonzalez (17 assists), while Madison Corf struck nine times off the bench.
Elsewhere, Julia Haynie compiled eight kills and a team-high three blocks, including a solo rejection, while Campbell Hague launched five non-returnables.
However, the Aztecs were unable to contain the three-pronged attack of Rylee Schulz (17, .353), Tierney Barlow (13, .423) and Corin Carruth (10), who combined for 40 of the Cowgirls' 58 kills, while fellow teammate Sarah Holcomb just missed the double-digit barrier in that category with nine put-aways of her own.
Schulz completed a double-double after pocketing 11 digs, while Kasia Partyka duplicated the feat with 39 assists and 11 scoops, tying Barlow with three block assists as well.
The contest was seemingly headed towards a fifth and deciding set after an overpass landed in bounds on the Wyoming side of the court to give SDSU an apparent victory in the fourth frame at 27-25, punctuating a late surge. Following a successful challenge, however, the Cowgirls were awarded the tying point at 26-26. The teams quickly exchanged serves before Wyoming received consecutive kills by Schulz and Barlow to abruptly end the match.
Earlier in the set, the Aztecs fought valiantly from the depths of a 17-9 deficit, forging an impressive 17-8 run of their own to take a one-point lead at 26-25. Haynie helped key the blitz with two kills and a pair of blocks, teaming with Tautua'a on one stuff while adding a solo stop. In addition, Elly Schraeder came through with a pair of solo rejections, while Corf and Mikela Labno notched two put-aways apiece during that span.
SDSU opened with a high-flying attack, blasting 20 kills against three errors in 41 attempts for a .415 efficiency in the first set. The Aztecs shared the wealth in the frame, as Underwood (.500) launched five non-returnables in 10 swings without an error, while Corf, Hague, and Tautua'a floored four shots apiece.
Not to be outdone, the SDSU defense limited the Cowgirls to a .188 efficiency in the opening set, as the visitors knocked down just nine kills with three miscues on 32 swings. Douglas collected eight digs alone in the frame, while Hall racked up four scoops as well.
The teams combined for seven ties, including a 13-13 deadlock following a Schulz kill. However, the Aztecs fashioned a 12-6 closing run to grab the early advantage on the set scoreboard. Hague blasted three kills down the stretch, while Corf and Underwood smashed two put-aways each to help keep Wyoming at bay.
SDSU suffered a reversal of fortune in the second stanza, finishing with a .139 efficiency after compiling 11 kills against six errors in 36 swings. Facing a pair of 10-point deficits, including a 24-14 spread, the Aztecs flashed their resiliency with eight straight tallies to trim the margin to 24-22. Hall floored a pair of dunk shots and teamed with Haynie on a block, while Underwood served up both of her aces and added a kill in that span. However, Wyoming quickly extinguished SDSU's comeback hopes with a Barlow kill.
Stung, the Aztecs were stymied in the third set, mustering just eight kills against five errors in 22 swings for a .136 hitting percentage. On the flip side, the Cowgirls combined for 14 put-aways with just miscues in 22 attempts for a .455 efficiency. The two sides witnessed six early ties, including 10-10 score after Bailey Darnell contributed a kill. However, Wyoming responded with six consecutive points, and the host school never threatened for the remainder of the frame.
Barlow led the visitors with six kills alone during that set, while Partyka served up a pair of aces. Conversely, the Aztecs received just two put-aways each from Tautua'a, Haynie and Corf, before the Scarlet and Black regrouped in a wacky fourth stanza.
San Diego State will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 11, when it plays host to Colorado State at 1 p.m. PT. The first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free pair of SDSU U.S. flag sunglasses as part of the Aztecs' Veterans Day/Military Appreciation Day promotion.
The Rams (15-11, 9-6 MW) are coming off a narrow 3-2 loss at UNLV Thursday night (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 13-25, 17-19).
Aztecs Toppled by Wyoming in Four Sets
