Aztecs Finish Perfect Weekend with Sweep of California Baptist

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The San Diego State volleyball team posted its third sweep of the season on Saturday with a 3-0 whitewash of California Baptist (25-11, 25-22, 25-22) in its final match of the CBU/UCR Challenge at Van Dyne Gym.

In their inaugural meeting with the Lancers, the Aztecs posted their second-best hitting percentage of the season with a .352 clip, committing just nine errors in 91 attempts while blasting 41 kills.

In addition, SDSU limited CBU to a .188 efficiency and maintained the statistical advantage in kills (41-37), aces (8-3) and team blocks (8.0 to 4.0) to help raise their record to 6-2 for the first time since 2019.

The Aztecs shared the wealth offensively, as Kat Cooper tied for match-high honors with a collegiate-best 10 kills, hitting .500 for the afternoon with just two errors in 16 attempts. The SDSU middle blocker also equaled her career high with four block assists.

Not to be outdone, the Scarlet and Black received eight put-aways from Shea Rubright, who continued her hot hitting with a .700 pace on Saturday, committing just one miscue on 11 swings while adding three blocks, including two solo stuffs.

Elsewhere Jasmine Davis (.375) and Natalie Hughes (.357) finished with six kills apiece, while Cara Braun aided the Aztecs’ defensive efforts with a collegiate-best four block assists.

Sarena Gonzalez (20 assists) and Andrea Campos (16 assists) alternated the setting duties, while Davis tied Gianna Bender for team-high honors with seven digs.

SDSU came out firing on all cylinders to claim the opening set in convincing fashion, hitting .556 with 11 kills against one error in 18 attempts. Rubright led the way with three kills and a solo block, while Hughes and Cooper launched two non-returnables apiece.

Facing an early 3-2 deficit, the Aztecs seized control with a timely 17-4 run, capped by Davis’ second ace of the set. SDSU also benefited from two bad setting attempts by the Lancers, who hit .000 for the frame, as seven attack errors offset seven kills in 25 attempts.

The Aztecs found themselves on the wrong side of a 5-4 score in the second stanza before inching ahead to stay following a Cooper kill and consecutive wayward attacks by CBU.

SDSU enjoyed a series of four-point leads, including a 22-18 advantage thanks to another Cooper blast. Shortly thereafter, the Lancers trimmed the deficit to 24-22 on back-to-back kills by Madison Gilliland and Emery DeJong, who soon followed with a service ace. However, the belated rally was halted when Anna Jackson’s attack went awry, giving the Scarlet and Black a commanding lead on the set scoreboard.

SDSU recorded its highest kill-total in the third frame, flooring 16 shots in 34 attempts with just five errors for a .324 efficiency. Hughes collected four kills in the set, while Cooper and Taylor Underwood contributed three apiece.

The Aztecs raced to an 11-4 lead, buoyed by a pair of Hughes kills and a Rubright solo block, while Davis and Keira Herron each served up an ace.

However, CBU remained in contention, whittling the deficit to 20-19 following Gilliland’s ace but could not seize the upper hand, as the Scarlet and Black utilized a 5-3 closing run to keep the host school at bay.

The Aztecs received kills by Cooper, Hughes, Davis and Underwood down the stretch, with the latter supplying the clinching point.

Eliana Posada led the Lancers with 10 kills, while Mia Jerue contributed a match-high digs in the loss.

SDSU continues its road swing next weekend when it travels to the Evergreen State for the Gonzaga Tournament, Sept. 20-21, in Spokane, Washington. The Aztecs will face the host Zags on Friday at 5 p.m. PT before battling Eastern Washington on Saturday at noon to close out their non-conference slate.