Aztecs Outlast DePaul in Four Sets

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team won its second straight on Thursday with a four-set triumph over DePaul (25-21, 20-25, 25-16, 25-22) in its opening match of the SDSU Invitational inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

With the win, the Aztecs snap a four-match losing streak in home openers dating back to the spring schedule in 2021 and improve to 3-1 on the year, matching their best start since 2019. In addition, the Scarlet and Black handed DePaul (3-1) its first loss of the year and raised its record to 2-0 in the all-time series.

Madison Corf and Taylor Underwood led all players with 16 kills apiece, while Campbell Hague reached double figures in that category as well, finishing with a career-high 10 put-aways of her own.

Not to be outdone, Shea Rubright collected six blocks on the night, including two solo stops, while Talea Mitchell totaled five rejections, featuring one solo effort.

Elsewhere, Gianna Bender anchored the SDSU back row with a season-best 19 digs, while Fatimah Hall (27 assists) and Andrea Campos (20 assists) split the setting duties. Along with her match-high assist total, Hall just missed a double-double with nine digs.

Despite trailing in digs (57-56), the Aztecs overcame 10 service errors to maintain a sizable advantage in kills (58-45) and team blocks (11.0 to 6.0). As a result, San Diego State owned a greater hitting percentage (.250 to .144) to help key its victory.

The contest seemed headed for a fifth and deciding set after DePaul grabbed a late 22-18 lead in the fourth stanza. However, the Aztecs stunned the Blue Demons with a timely 7-0 closing run to abruptly end the match, much to the delight of the Scarlet and Black faithful.

SDSU received two kills from Underwood and one put-away from Corf down the stretch, while Rubright joined forces with those two teammates on a pair of blocks to fuel the Aztecs’ outburst. Two additional wayward attacks also sealed the Blue Demons’ fate.

Earlier, the teams combined for six ties in the opening set until DePaul built a series of three-point leads, including an 18-15 spread following an Ashley Cudiamat service ace.

As a precursor to the fourth frame, San Diego State flashed its mettle with another opportunistic run, closing with a 10-3 surge to escape with that first set. The Aztec received consecutive kills by Mitchell and Natalie Hughes, while Rubright combined with Hague on a block, followed by her own solo stuff, which prompted a timeout.

Hall quickly served up an ace before the Blue Demons temporarily stemmed the tide with a Jill Pressly put-away and a joint block by Meghan Scholz and Aly Kindelberger, which knotted the score at 21-21. However, SDSU regrouped with kills by Underwood and Rubright sandwiched around two errant attacks, which contributed to DePaul’s doom.

After posting a .312 hitting percentage in the first set (15-4-36), the Scarlet and Black was unable to generate a consistent attack in the second stanza, mustering a .132 pace with only 11 kills against six errors on 38 swings. Consequently, the Blue Demons were able to maintain the upper hand throughout, building a 19-13 lead following an Abby Cahill service ace and a Katelynn Oxley kill.

The Scarlet and Black threw in one last scare, trimming the deficit to 22-19 thanks to Underwood, who teamed with Rubright on a block before blasting a kill. However, Oxley responded with a put-away of her own and a solo block to keep the host school at bay.

Unfazed, the Aztecs turned the tables in the third set, limiting the visitors to a .037 hitting percentage, as the Blue Demons managed just seven kills on 27 attempts with six errors.

Conversely, SDSU posted its greatest efficiency for the match, hitting .312 in the frame with 15 kills against five errors in 32 swings. With the score knotted at 12-12, the Aztecs took the lead for good with five straight points to spark a decisive 13-4 closing run. After consecutive Corf service aces, Hague added two late kills to put the set out of reach.

In the fourth frame, SDSU trailed by as many as six points, with DePaul building a 17-11 advantage following an Audrey Klemp kill. The Aztecs managed to trim the margin to 18-17, as three Hague put-aways and her combined block with Mitchell sparked a 6-1 blitz. 

 However, the Blue Demons seemed to weather the proverbial storm, reclaiming a four-point edge thanks to another Klemp kill and a Hanna Karl non-returnable before the Scarlet and Black caught lightning a bottle to secure the victory.

Klemp led DePaul with 14 kills in the loss, while the setting duo of Cudiamat (15 assists, 10 digs) and Amanda Saegar (20 assists, 10 digs) each completed a double-double.

San Diego State continues tournament play on Friday when it battles Portland State at 6 p.m. The Vikings (0-4) were swept by Tulane earlier on Thursday afternoon.