Aztecs Downed by Tulane in Narrow Four-Setter

SAN DIEGO – Despite maintaining the upper hand in several statistical categories, the San Diego State volleyball team dropped a tough four-set decision to visiting Tulane (26-28, 21-25, 25-14, 24-26) in the final match of the SDSU Invitational on Saturday inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

The loss snaps the Aztecs’ three-match winning streak as the Scarlet and Black fell to 4-2 overall, while the Green Wave even their record at 3-3 on the young season.

Along with posting a greater hitting percentage (.331 to .311), SDSU enjoyed a 63-57 advantage in kills and a 56-47 edge in digs while serving up five more aces (8-3).

However, the Aztecs were plagued by 12 service errors and trailed in team blocks 10.0 to 3.0, while the Green Wave committed four less attack errors to escape with the win.

SDSU boasted four players with double-digit kill totals, including Shea Rubright, who floored 15 shots, hitting .667 with just one error on 21 attempts, while Taylor Underwood (.370) launched 13 put-aways for the match.

Madison Corf also got into the act with 11 kills of her own, just missing a double-double for the second consecutive day after collecting nine digs. In addition, Campbell Hague tied her career-high after blasting 10 non-returnables.

Elsewhere, Andrea Campos led all players with 29 assists, sharing the setting responsibilities with Fatimah Hall (24 assists), while Gianna Bender scooped up a match-high 16 digs.

The teams combined for 12 ties and four lead changes in a highly competitive opening set that saw the Scarlet and Black hit .400 in that span with 19 kills against only three errors in 40 attempts.

Tulane owned a series of three-point leads, including a 17-14 spread following an Avery Burks kill. However, the Aztecs responded with three straight points thanks to consecutive put-aways by Underwood and another by Keen, which knotted the score and set the stage for a frantic conclusion.

After five ensuing tie scores, SDSU reached set point at 24-23 following a wayward Green Wave attack. However, an ill-timed service error cast a pall on the Aztecs’ hopes for the rest of the frame, as Tulane benefited from a bad set, while Zoe Rachow followed with an ace for the clinching point.

Buoyed by its good fortune, Tulane posted a scintillating .682 hitting percentage in the second stanza, knocking down 15 kills without an error in 22 attempts. The Aztecs tried to keep pace, logging a .367 efficiency with 16 put-aways on 30 swings but committed five attack errors while suffering five errant serves.

Still, the two sides combined for eight early ties before the Green Wave vaulted in front to stay at 9-8 following a Sami Jacobs kill. Tulane extended its lead to five points on three occasions, including a 23-18 advantage on a Jordan White put-away.

The Aztecs threw in one last scare with a belated rally, as Underwood, Corf and Hall knocked down consecutive kills. However, White joined forces with Agata Beksha on a block before an SDSU attack error provided the final margin.

Stung, the Aztecs responded with their highest hitting percentage of the match in the third frame, posting a .444 clip on 14 kills in 27 attempts with just two errors. In addition, the defense limited Tulane to just a .207 pace with 10 put-aways on 29 swings with four miscues.

After trailing 3-0 to begin the set, SDSU seized control with a 9-2 blitz, prompting a Green Wave timeout, which ultimately proved to no avail. The Aztecs raced to a series of 10-point leads, including a 21-11 spread following a Campos ace to put the score out of reach.

Needing a set victory in the fourth stanza to extend the match, SDSU found itself in pursuit mode for much of the frame, hitting just .139 in that stretch with 14 kills against nine attack errors on 36 swings.

Trailing 18-15, the Aztecs knotted the score with an 8-5 surge, capped by a Rubright kill followed by an exchange of service errors. Sabrina Skyers soon launched a non-returnable before the match unceremoniously ended on a misdirected Aztec attack.

Jacobs finished with a match-high 18 kills, one of two Tulane players to record a double-double after collecting 11 digs, while Burks accomplished the same feat with 13 put-aways and 12 scoops. Additionally, White contributed 11 kills of her own while leading all competitors with five block assists.

San Diego State embarks on a six-match road swing, starting next weekend when it heads up the freeway to face UC Riverside and California Baptist at the UCR/CBU Challenge, Sept. 13-14, at CBU’s Van Dyne Gym in Riverside.