Aztecs Topple UC Riverside in Four Sets

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team overcame an early deficit to record a 3-1 victory over UC Riverside (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21) on Friday in its opening match of the CBU/UCR Challenge at Van Dyne Gym on the campus of California Baptist.

The Aztecs were paced by Taylor Underwood’s match-high 16 kills, improving to 5-2 for the first time since 2019, while the Highlanders drop to 1-6 on the young season.

In addition, Jasmine Davis just missed a double-double for the Scarlet and Black, finishing with nine kills, 16 digs and four aces, with the latter two statistics marking season bests.

Elsewhere, Kat Cooper set a season high as well with seven kills of her own, matching Shea Rubright, who also collected a season-best eight block assists, one short of a career high.

Keira Herron also provided ample defensive support along the back row, tying her collegiate best with a match-high 18 digs, while Andrea Campos (25 assists) and Sarena Gonzalez (21 assists) split the setting chores.

Despite an 11-9 deficiency in aces, SDSU maintained a collective 55-42 advantage in kills and a 9-7 edge in team blocks to help key its win. In addition, the Aztecs out-hit UCR .225 to .133, raising their record to 4-0 on the year when limiting the opposition below a .200 efficiency.

Still, the two teams battled through 25 ties and 10 lead changes in a highly competitive match that saw the Highlanders escape with the opening set.

SDSU found itself on the wrong side of an early 14-10 score before fashioning a 7-2 spurt to inch in front, 17-16. The Aztecs received three kills in that stretch from Madison Corf, who also combined with Rubright on a block.

However, UCR derailed SDSU’s momentum with a 9-6 closing run, featuring three kills from Sophia Ewalefo and two by Trinity Sheridan, while SDSU self-destructed with consecutive attack errors on the final two serves.

Underwood hit .417 during the frame, matching Ewalefo with six put-aways, while Rubright assisted on three blocks.

The Aztecs regrouped in the second stanza, limiting the Highlanders to a .038 efficiency on just five kills with four errors in 26 attempts. SDSU broke a 3-3 tie with eight straight points, maintaining the upper hand for the rest of the set.

Underwood blasted five kills in the frame, while Cooper launched three non-returnables of her own, as the Scarlet and Black posted its greatest hitting percentage of the afternoon with a .312 clip, knocking down 15 kills against five errors on 32 swings.

Still, the Highlanders were able to throw in one last scare, trimming the margin to 22-19 following an Ewalefo ace. However, the Aztecs received a kill from Rubright and a Davis service ace, followed by an errant serve in the opposite court to keep UCR at bay.

The two sides combined for 12 ties and three lead changes in a hard-fought third set that witnessed the Highlanders clinging to an 18-17 lead thanks to a misdirected SDSU attack. However, the Aztecs answered with a 7-3 surge to seize control. Underwood fueled the run with three kills and a joint block alongside Rubright.

Sheridan soon followed with a kill for UCR, which benefited from an SDSU attack error to trim the margin to 24-23. After an unsuccessful challenge, the Aztecs quickly ended the suspense when Rubright floored a shot to secure a 2-1 lead in sets.

Bolstered by its good fortune, the Scarlet and Black raced to a 12-4 lead in the fourth frame, capped by Rubright’s combined block with Natalie Hughes and a Highlander attack error.

Nevertheless, UCR gradually fought itself off the proverbial ropes with a 14-4 run to nose in front, 18-17. The Highlanders received aces from Jessica Dean and Brianna Bowyer in that span, while Ewalefo combined on a block with Syndee Rowe after a Carissa Wiles solo rejection.

However, the bubble quickly burst for UCR, which self-destructed down the stretch with four attack errors, contributing to an 8-4 clinching run for the Aztecs, who received two kills from Hughes and an ace from Davis to help secure the victory.

The Highlanders finished with a .000 efficiency for the final set, as 10 attack errors offset 10 kills in 45 attempts. SDSU did not fare much better hitting at a .059 clip in the frame with nine kills against seven miscues on 45 swings.

For the match, UCR was led by Sheridan’s 12 kills, while Ewalefo totaled 11 in the loss.

The Aztecs will close out their brief tournament appearance on Saturday when they face co-host California Baptist at 1 p.m. inside Van Dyne Gym. SDSU’s clash with the Lancers will be aired live via subscription basis on ESPN+.