Aztecs Drop Heartbreaker at New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The San Diego State volleyball team had its five-match winning streak snapped in a heart-breaking five-set loss to New Mexico (22-25, 25-27, 26-24, 25-14, 14-16) in a Mountain West clash Saturday at Johnson Center.

Leading 14-7 in the deciding fifth set, the Aztecs (9-3, 1-1 MW) were unable to withstand a furious Lobo rally, as the host school scored nine straight points to escape with the improbable victory.

SDSU maintained the upper hand in most statistical categories, including kills (77-66), hitting percentage (.260 to .214), digs (88-77) and team blocks (13.0 to 9.0), but it wasn’t enough, as New Mexico (8-4, 1-1 MW) won its sixth straight in the all-time series.

The Aztecs received several superlative performances on Saturday, including a season-high 20 kills and four blocks (two solo) from Jasmine Davis, who hit .367 for the match, committing just two errors in 49 attempts while completing her fourth double-double of the year after collecting 14 digs.

In addition, Taylor Underwood matched her season best with 18 put-aways and contributed three block assists, while Shea Rubright continued her excellent all-round play with 12 kills and five block assists, posting a .611 hitting percentage with one error on 18 swings while adding five block assists.

The SDSU cause was also buoyed by Gianna Bender, who set a career high with 21 digs, while Sarena Gonzalez notched her third straight double-double with 35 assists and a collegiate-best 19 digs, sharing the setter duties with Andrea Campos, who dished out 27 helpers.

Elsewhere, Talea Mitchell provided a spark off the bench with nine kills and three blocks, including a solo effort, while Kat Cooper finished with seven kills and four block assists in the loss.

Overcoming an early 2-0 deficit in sets, the Aztecs rallied to capture the ensuing two frames and seemed poised to complete the reverse sweep in the final stanza after building a late 14-7 advantage. Earlier, SDSU broke a 5-5 deadlock with four straight points on consecutive put-aways by Campbell Hague sandwiched between kills from Rubright and Davis.

The Aztecs quickly stretched the margin to seven, benefiting from two unforced Lobo attack errors and a Davis solo block after receiving additional put-aways from Hague and Cooper.

However, the clinching point ultimately proved elusive for SDSU, as Madeleine Miller served up three aces down the stretch, including the match winner when the ball took a fortuitous spin over the net and hit an empty patch of floor.

In addition, Lauren Payne knocked down a pair of kills in that span, while Jada Bouyer joined forces with Liepa Lavicktye on a block. The disheveled Aztecs were also plagued by two untimely attack errors and a wayward serve.

Payne led all players with 23 kills, followed by Bouyer, who launched 17 non-returnables of her own, while Lavicktye posted a match-high seven block assists. Falanika Danielson also supported the UNM defensive efforts with 22 digs to pace the competition.

After extending the match with a strong finish in the third set, SDSU rode that momentum into the fourth stanza, where it posted its highest hitting percentage of the day with a .423 efficiency, blasting 19 kills on 37 attempts with just three errors. The Aztecs spread the individual wealth as Davis, Underwood and Cooper supplied four put-aways apiece, with the latter contributing three block assists.

Clinging to a slim 14-12 advantage, SDSU closed with a prolific 11-2 blitz to send the contest into the decisive fifth set. Cooper floored three shots and combined with Rubright on a block to spark the run, while Gonzalez and Bender each served up an ace to help set the stage for a dramatic finish.

San Diego State returns home for a pair of conference matches next week when it battles Utah State on Thursday, Oct. 3, starting at 6 p.m. PT, before entertaining Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 5, at noon.