Aztecs Blank Seattle to Wrap Up ISU Tourney

POCATELLO, Idaho – The San Diego State volleyball team rebounded from a disappointing loss with a convincing three-set victory over Seattle University (25-18, 25-16, 25-14) on Sunday in its final match of the Idaho State Tournament inside Reed Gym.

With the win, the Aztecs raise their record to 2-1 on the young season after completing their second sweep of the weekend.

Led by the dynamic duo of freshman Talea Mitchell and transfer Shea Rubright, who combined to hit .625 for the contest, SDSU maintained a decisive advantage in most stastical categories, including kills (47-28), attack percentage (.366 to .105) and team blocks (12.0 to 3.0).

In addition, the Scarlet and Black owned a slight advantage in digs (44-35) and service aces (6-4) to defeat the Redhawks for the fifth straight occasion.

Making her first career start, Mitchell led all players with 16 kills, finishing with a .696 efficiency after completing 23 attempts without an error. In addition, Rubright hit at a .529 clip, totaling 10 kills on 17 swings with just one miscue while serving up a career-high four aces.

Elsewhere, Taylor Underwood (.375) total eight put-aways, while Campbell Hague came off the bench to launch six non-returnables of her own.

Mitchell, Rubright and Underwood also displayed their dominance at the net, combining for seven of the Aztecs’ 12 team blocks. Mitchell flashed her versatility with six individual blocks, including a solo stop, while Rubright finished with five rejections, featuring another solo rejection. Not to be outdone, Underwood tied her career high with four block assists for the second straight day.

SDSU’s defensive efforts were supported by Gianna Bender, who collected a match-high 16 digs, while the Aztecs’ setting chores were largely shared by Fatimah Hall (19 assists) and Andrea Campos (15 assists).

The teams battled through three lead changes and two ties in the opening set before San Diego State broke an 11-11 deadlock with three straight points on an Underwood kill, a Rubright service ace and a combined block by Mitchell and Madison Corf.

Shortly thereafter, the Aztecs extended their lead to 22-15 following consecutive kills by Hague and Rubright, putting the set essentially out of reach for Seattle.

Mitchell and Rubright floored four shots apiece in the frame, while the defense limited the Redhawks to a minus-.036 hitting percentage with nine errors on 28 attempts against eight kills.

SDSU maintained the upper hand for most of the second stanza, breaking open an 8-7 score with a timely 10-3 outburst, which prompted a Seattle timeout. Rubright and Hague smashed two kills apiece in that span, while Mitchell joined forces with Underwood on a pair of blocks.

Mitchell knocked down five kills in just seven swings in the set, while Rubright added four put-aways, two blocks and one ace.

The Aztecs saved their best for last in the final frame, hitting at a .424 clip with 17 kills on 33 attempts with just three miscues. Mitchell continued her hot hitting with seven more put-aways on just 10 swings, while Underwood and Hague powered down three kills each.

SDSU shook over five early ties, building a 13-8 lead thanks to a Rubright ace and a Mitchell non-returnable.

The Redhawks twice trimmed the margin to three, including an 14-11 spread following a rare Aztec hitting error. However, Corf’s service ace sandwiched around two kills by Mitchell ignited an 11-3 run to close out the match.

Merima Smajlovic was the lone Seattle player to reach double figures in both kills and digs after completing a double-double with 11 put-aways and 10 scoops.

Following Sunday’s match, Gianna Bender, Shea Rubright and Taylor Underwood were named to the all-tournament team.

SDSU returns home to host the San Diego State Invitational, Sept. 5-7, with the Aztecs battling DePaul, Portland State and Tulane on successive days. SDSU will face the Blue Demons and Vikings, respectively, on Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m., before wrapping up the tournament against the Green Wave on Saturday at 3 p.m.