Aztecs Defeat SJSU to Complete Second Straight Sweep

 

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The visiting San Diego State volleyball team recorded its second straight sweep Thursday with a 3-0 whitewash of San José State (25-21, 25-18, 25-19) in a Mountain West clash at Spartan Gym.

The Aztecs used a balanced offense and timely runs to raise their record to 11-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while the Spartans suffered their second straight defeat, falling to 9-2 on the year and 4-2 in the MW.

In addition, SDSU’s 11-4 ledger represents its best start to a season since the 1995 campaign, when the Scarlet and Black opened with a 13-2 record through its first 15 matches.

The Aztecs were led by the combo of Jasmine Davis and Kat Cooper, who combined for 17 of the team’s 36 kills, committing one error apiece. Davis blasted 10 kills on 18 swings for a .500 hitting percentage and served up two aces, while Cooper finished with a .545 efficiency, launching seven put-aways in 11 swings.

In addition, SDSU received six kills apiece from Taylor Underwood and Shea Rubright, who tied for match-high honors with four blocks, including a solo stop, while Cooper contributed three blocks of her own, including a pair of solo rejections.

The Aztec cause was also bolstered by the duo of Fatimah Hall (17 assists) and Andrea Campos (14 kills), who split the setting chores, while Gianna Bender anchored the back row with nine digs.

As a team, SDSU maintained the edge in kills (36-30), hitting percentage (.233 to .098), service aces (8-4) and digs (37-32) to key its victory. SJSU’s paltry .098 clip marked the lowest efficiency by an Aztec opponent this season.

Although the sides recorded seven blocks, apiece, San Diego State also benefitted from 14 unforced attack errors and 10 misguided serves by the Spartans.

The teams combined for nine ties and four lead changes early in the opening set before the Aztecs inched in front to stay, 13-12, following a Davis kill.

SDSU quickly built a series of four-point leads, including a 20-16 spread after Underwood launched a non-returnable. However, SJSU narrowed the gap with three straight points thanks to a wayward Aztec serve and an errant attack followed by a Brooke Slusser kill.

Unfazed, the Aztecs withstood the challenge with a 5-2 closing run to keep the host school at bay. After a Campos dump shot found the floor, Cara Braun entered and served up an ace, while Davis followed with two kills, including the clincher.

SDSU logged its best hitting percentage of the night with a .364 clip in the first frame, knocking down 16 kills on 33 attempts with just four errors. Davis (.833) put away five of six shots without a miscue in that span, while Cooper (.667) smashed four kills without an error in six swings.

The Aztecs rode that momentum into the second stanza, as Davis notched a pair of aces in a 4-0 opening run, and the visitors never looked back. SDSU gradually extended its lead to 10 points at 22-12 following a Keira Herron ace and a Spartan attack error.

SJSU never got closer than six points the rest of the way, as Davis and Cooper each blasted a kill, while the Spartans self-destructed with another misdirected attack on the final serve of the set.

Despite mustering only seven kills in the frame, the Scarlet and Black held the hosts to a minus-.036 efficiency in that span, as SJSU committed 10 attack errors against nine kills in 28 attempts.

The teams witnessed a see-saw affair early in the third set, combining for five ties and three lead changes before the Aztecs vaulted in front for good with three straight points on kills by Davis and Talea Mitchell, sandwiched around an SJSU attack error, to break a 12-12 deadlock.

The Spartans trimmed the deficit to one on several occasions, including a 20-19 margin after a Slusser kill, but could not seize the upper hand. SDSU soon ended the suspense with a 5-0 blitz to secure the match, as Underwood floored two shots, including the clincher, sandwiched around a thunderous Cooper solo block.

SJSU received a double-double from Blaire Fleming, who led all players with 11 kills and 10 digs, but hit just .053 on the night after committing nine attack errors. In addition, Slusser added seven put-aways and dished out 15 assists, while Emma Testi came up with four block assists in the loss.

San Diego State concludes its weekend road trip on Saturday, Oct. 12, when it heads over to the Central Valley for a matinee match vs. Fresno State, starting at 11 a.m. PT inside Save Mart Center. The Bulldogs (7-9, 3-2 MW) defeated UNLV at home in four sets Thursday night.