Aztecs Fall in Tough Five-Set Battle at Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. – Despite double-digit kill totals from five players, the San Diego State volleyball team squandered a 2-1 lead in sets on Saturday, dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Fresno State (18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 12-15) in a Mountain West clash at Save Mart Center.

The Aztecs owned the statistical advantage in kills (64-58), hitting percentage (.255 to .211) and digs (83-63) but were unable to overcome a season-high 16 service aces by the Bulldogs, who also held a slight edge in team blocks (9.0 to 7.0) to escape with the win.

The loss marks SDSU’s third straight defeat in the five-set variety, as the Scarlet and Black slips to 11-5 on the season and 3-3 in conference play, while Fresno State moves to 8-9 overall and 4-2 in the MW.

Shea Rubright paced the Aztecs with 13 kills and hit .455 for the day, committing just three errors in 23 attempts, while Taylor Underwood (.357) launched 12 put-aways of her own, followed by Talea Mitchell (11), Campbell Hague (10) and Jasmine Davis (10), who completed her fourth double-double of the year after tying her season best with 16 digs.

Not to be outdone, Andrea Campos recorded her first double-double in an SDSU uniform after compiling 20 assists and 11 digs, sharing the setting chores primarily with Sarena Gonzalez, who finished with 19 helpers and eight scoops of her own.

Elsewhere, Gianna Bender anchored the Aztecs’ back row with a career-high 23 digs to lead all players, while Keira Herron added 13 in that category.

However, San Diego State was unable to contain the exploits of the Bulldogs’ Addison Haluska, who collected a match-high 29 kills, while Ella Rud (14 digs) totaled 13 put-aways, followed by Jenna Legault’s 10 non-returnables. In addition, reigning MW Defensive Player of the Week Kasey Purry posted seven blocks, including a pair of solo stuffs, while Dionii Fraga finished with 20 digs in the victory.

After Fresno State logged a .293 hitting percentage in the first set compared to the Aztecs’ .167 efficiency, the Scarlet and Black turned the tables in the next two frames to seize the upper hand, limiting the host school to a combined .125 pace in that stretch.

The two sides combined for seven ties in the second set before SDSU took the lead for good at 19-16 following a service error and two Underwood kills. The Bulldogs responded with Rud’s put-away and a joint block by Purry and Brooke Cowie to trim the margin to one.

However, the Aztecs kept the host school at bay with a 6-3 closing run to secure the set. SDSU benefited from a service error and a successful challenge, while Mitchell floored a pair of shots. Moments later, Hague and Rubright each blasted a kill to provide the clinching points.

Fresno State overcame a 9-3 deficit in the third set to tie the score at 13-13 following another kill by Rud and an errant Aztec attack. However, the visitors responded with a key 6-0 run to vault in front for good. Shortly thereafter, SDSU increased its advantage to 22-14 on a combined block by Rubright and Hague, while Davis added a kill.

The Bulldogs threw in one last scare, narrowing the gap to 24-23 thanks to a 9-2 surge. Haluska sparked the run with three kills, while Fraga served up an ace. In addition, Fresno State was the beneficiary of three unforced attack errors and a bad set in that span. Unfazed, Kat Cooper quickly ended the suspense with a kill, allowing the Aztecs to escape.

Neither team hit well in the fourth frame, as each side committed six errors. However, the Bulldogs forced a fifth and deciding set thanks in part to six service aces and three team blocks. Additionally, Rud shouldered the burden with six kills in that span for Fresno State, while the Aztecs countered with four put-aways by Rubright and three apiece by Cooper and Davis.

SDSU trailed by as many as eight points on four occasions, including a 21-13 deficit following a Haluska service ace, before trimming the margin to two at 22-20 with a late 7-1 blitz. Cooper highlighted the run with a kill and a pair of blocks with Hague and Underwood, respectively. However, the Bulldogs received two kills down the stretch from Rud after a Haluska non-returnable to send the match into a deciding fifth set.

Despite seven tie scores, the Aztecs were unable to seize the upper hand in the final frame, as Fresno State posted a .526 efficiency on 10 kills without an error in 19 attempts, while the Scarlet and Black committed just two miscues in 20 swings with nine kills for a .350 clip.

With the score knotted at 10-10, the Bulldogs took the lead for good after a Haluska kill and a Cowie service ace. Mitchell followed with a put-away for SDSU, but Fresno State crafted a 3-1 closing surge to ice the match. Haluska and Furry bookended the run with kills, while Rud’s service ace offset a non-returnable by the Aztecs’ Hague.

San Diego State will return to the friendly environs of Aztec Court at Peterson Gym to open a three-match homestand, facing Colorado State (Oct. 17), Wyoming (Oct. 19) and UNLV (Oct. 22) in a six-day span. For ticket information, log on to GoAztecs.com.