Aztecs Set for Key MW Matches vs Colorado State, Wyoming This Week

 

SAN DIEGO -- After splitting two road matches, San Diego State returns home this week to face Colorado State and Wyoming in a pair of key Mountain West showdowns on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym. The Aztecs will lock horns with the Rams on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. PT, before entertaining the Cowgirls on Saturday, Oct. 19, at noon.

Along with live stats, both matches will air live on the Mountain West Network with links available on GoAztecs.com. Fans can also catch the live action on their smartphones or TVs by downloading the MW app.

Free SDSU pop-its will be presented to the first 250 fans prior to Thursday’s clash with Colorado State, while the Scarlet and Black will celebrate Kids Club Day for the Wyoming match by giving away free Aztec roller banners to the first 250 spectators.

QUICK HITS
> San Diego State opened last weekend’s road trip with a sweep of San José State (25-21, 25-18, 25-19) before suffering a disappointing five-set defeat at the hands of Fresno State (18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 12-15). As a result, the Aztecs find themselves in a three-way tie for sixth place in the MW standings with Boise State and UNLV at 3-3.

> Jasmine Davis led the team with 20 kills (2.50/set) last week, completing her fourth double-double of the year at Fresno State with 10 kills and 16 digs, the latter of which tied a season high.

> In addition, the Aztecs received 19 kills from Shea Rubright (2.38/set) on the excursion, including a match-high 13 put-aways vs. the Bulldogs, while Taylor Underwood launched 12 non-returnables in that contest as well.

> Despite the split, SDSU has still matched its best start to a season since 2011, logging an 11-5 record through 16 contests.

> For the season, Rubright owns a league-leading .483 hitting percentage, which ranks third in the nation as of Oct. 16.

> San Diego State has posted more kills than the opposition in all but one match this year (11-4) and has registered a greater hitting percentage on 14 occasions (11-3). In 2023, the Aztecs recorded a higher efficiency in 11 matches for the entire season, finishing with an 8-3 ledger in that category.

> Additionally, SDSU has displayed tremendous improvement at the net, collecting more blocks than opponents in 11 matches (8-3) already this season after leading in blocks just once for the entire 2023 campaign.

> The Aztecs have already played more than twice as many five-set matches this season (3-4) compared to last year (0-3).

> SDSU is a combined 8-0 this season when one or two players surpass the double-digit kill plateau but is just 3-5 when three or more competitors post 10 or more put-aways in a match.

> The Aztecs are 3-0 thus far in matches following a loss and 7-5 in contests following a victory.

> Brent Hilliard needs just one win to reach 100 victories in his career as a head coach. 

SERIES RECORD VS. COLORADO STATE
> The Aztecs trail the all-time series vs. the Rams 50-18 after dropping a three-set decision on The Mesa (23-25, 28-30, 15-25) in the last meeting between the two squads on Nov. 11, 2023.

> The Scarlet and Black gave Colorado State all it could handle in that encounter before fading down the stretch.

> The Aztecs and Rams combined for 34 ties and 10 lead changes in their showdown, as each side posted eight team blocks.

> However, the Aztecs committed four more attack errors (18-14) than the Rams, who out-hit the Scarlet and Black .263 to .175 while maintaining a 10-4 advantage in service aces and a 39-36 edge in kills to hold on for the victory and complete the season sweep.

> Taylor Underwood (.292) was the lone SDSU player to reach the double-digit kill plateau after blasting 10 put-aways to go with three block assists.

> The Aztecs also received a season-best five block assists from Amber Keen, while Sarena Gonzalez (20 assists) and Fatimah Hall (13 assists) shared the setting responsibilities.

> The two sides will square off in the rematch at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Nov. 2. 

SERIES RECORD VS. WYOMING
> After splitting two encounters with the Cowgirls in 2023, San Diego State leads the all-time series against Wyoming 38-26 in 64 meetings since 1984.

> The Aztecs notched a 3-1 victory in Laramie early in the conference season last year before the Cowgirls prevailed in the rematch by the identical four-set margin (19-25, 25-22, 25-16, 29-27).

> After posting a stellar .415 efficiency in the opening set, SDSU hit just .165 (35-18-103) over the final three frames, while Wyoming registered a .326 clip during that stretch (49-16-101) to help earn the season split.

> Among returners, the Aztecs were paced by Taylor Underwood, who totaled 11 kills and two service aces, while Fatimah Hall logged her fifth double-double of the year with 26 assists and 12 digs.

> SDSU and Wyoming will renew acquaintances in Laramie on Halloween Night to open the second half of conference play.

MATCH CONNECTIONS
> Colorado State defensive specialist Jordan Tynsky and SDSU right-side hitter Natalie Hughes competed against one another as prep players in Texas during the 2022 campaign. Tynksy’s Denton Guyer High School team posted a 3-1 triumph over Hughes’ McKinney North squad in the second match of the season. Hughes, who was entering her senior campaign, finished with 14 kills, hitting .393 for the match with a solo block, while Tynksy, then a junior, compiled 17 digs and served up one ace, according to MaxPreps.

> Wyoming outside hitter Rylee Schulz is an alumna of Carlsbad High School in San Diego County. 

SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> Entering the weekend, Shea Rubright leads the Mountain West with a .483 hitting percentage, which ranks third in the nation as of Oct. 16. The Aztec middle blocker is also slotted 10th in the league in blocks (1.06/set).

> Additionally, Kat Cooper has climbed into the seventh position in the conference with a .363 hitting percentage.

> Elsewhere, Gianna Bender occupies the ninth spot in digs (3.30/set), while Taylor Underwood tops the squad with 3.50 points and 3.15 kills per set, both of which rank 10th in the league,

> Not to be outdone, the setting duo of Sarena Gonzalez (6.03/set) and Fatimah Hall (5.25/set) find themselves among the MW leaders in assists, ranking eighth and 10th, respectively.

> Gonzalez has logged the league’s highest assist total in a single match this season, dishing out 60 helpers against Eastern Washington on Sept. 21.

> The Aztecs boast four of the top 10 hitting performances in the Mountain West thus far, including Talea Mitchell’s third-best .696 clip vs. Seattle, while Rubright’s two percentages from the SDSU Invitational (.667 vs. Tulane) and (.640 vs. Portland State) rank fourth (tie) and seventh, respectively. In addition, the Aztec graduate senior finished with a .611 efficiency at New Mexico, which is slotted 10th.

> Elsewhere, Mitchell’s 16 kills against Seattle represents the sixth-best total for a three-set match in the MW this season, while Rubright finished with a season-high eight blocks assists against UCR, which is tied for 16th.

> Three Aztecs also share the eighth spot in the conference with four services aces in a match, including Rubright (vs. Seattle), Jasmine Davis (vs. UC Riverside) and Keira Herron (at Gonzaga).

> As a team, the Aztecs lead the Mountain West in kills (13.58/set) and assists (12.80/set) while ranking second in hitting percentage (.276). Additionally, the Scarlet and Black occupy the sixth position in service aces (1.47/set), blocks (2.22/set) and digs (13.45/set).

> On the national level, SDSU is slotted 18th in hitting percentage, 28th in assists, and 35th in kills.

> San Diego State’s 77 kills at New Mexico marks the best team performance in the MW thus far, while its 68 put-aways against CSUN is tied for fifth.

> Additionally, two of the Aztecs’ best attack percentages rank among the league’s top 10, including .366 vs. Seattle (7th) and .352 vs. California Baptist (10th). 

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
>    After winning its first five matches to start Mountain West play, Colorado State suffered its first conference in a five-set home defeat to Boise State on Oct. 10 (18-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-14, 12-15). The Rams and Aztecs faced one common opponent during their respective non-conference schedules, with each side posting a four-set victory over DePaul. CSU accomplished the feat on Blue Demons’ home floor in Chicago on Sept. 12, one week after San Diego State recorded its triumph in the opener of the SDSU Invitational. Through 16 matches, the Rams have compiled a 5-6 record at home and a 4-1 mark on the road. Individually, CSU is paced by outside hitter Malaya Jones, who leads the conference with 4.38 kills per set, which ranks 20th in the nation, while middle blockers Naeemah Weathers (2.30) and Karina Leber (2.02) are also averaging over two put-aways per frame. In addition, Weathers tops the squad with a .455 hitting percentage, which ranks ninth in the country. Not to be outdone, setter Emery Herman’s MW-leading 10.23 assists per set is good for 30th nationally, while libero Kate Yoshimoto is slotted eighth in the conference this week in digs (3.44/set). Collectively, the Rams occupy the 15th spot in the country with a conference-best .285 hitting percentage while ranking second in both kills (13.25/set) and assists (12.27/set). Additionally, opponents are hitting just .210 against the Rams, who are slotted seventh in the MW in blocks (2.18/set) and 10th in digs (12.75/set). Colorado State is under the direction of second-year head coach Emily Kohan, who was promoted to the position prior to the 2023 campaign after spending seven seasons as an assistant with Rams, including the final four as associate head coach. With Kohan on staff, CSU has qualified for postseason play on five occasions and captured four Mountain West titles while boasting 36 all-conference players.

>    After dropping a four-set decision at conference-leading CSU, Wyoming rebounded to capture a 3-2 thriller over Boise State at home on Oct. 12 (25-21, 22-25, 11-25, 25-23, 15-12). Entering the weekend, the Cowgirls find themselves in a tie for ninth place with New Mexico in the MW standings at 2-4. Prior to Saturday’s showdown with the Aztecs, Wyoming will battle UNLV in Las Vegas. Through 16 matches, the Cowgirls have compiled a 3-2 record at home and a combined 7-4 ledger in road/neutral matches. Offensively, Wyoming is led by outside hitter Paige Lauterwasser, who ranks eighth in the MW in kills (3.50/set), while right-side hitter Emma Winter (2.40) and middle blocker Sarah Holcomb (2.06) are also averaging over two put-aways per set. Not to be outdone, reigning MW Defensive Player of the Week Sierra Grizzle tops the conference with 4.18 digs per set, while Holcomb (1.39/set) and fellow middle Kayla Mazzocca (1.29/set) occupy the second and third spots in blocks, respectively.  Elsewhere, setter Kasia Partyka ranks third in the MW with 9.68 assists per set, while Grizzle is slotted sixth in aces (0.35/set). As a team, the Cowgirls rank second in the league in blocks (2.70/set) and fifth in digs (13.68/set). As a result, opponents are hitting just .176 against Wyoming, which is good for second in the MW.  Conversely, the Cowgirls rank fifth in the conference in hitting  percentage (.221), sixth in kills (12.47/set) and seventh in aces (1.44/set). Wyoming is under the direction of first-year head coach Kaylee Prigge, who was promoted to her position after serving four seasons as an assistant with the Cowgirls, including the final two as associate head coach. Prior to her tenure in Laramie, Prigge was an assistant for two years at Illinois Chicago in 2017 and 2018 after spending two stints at her alma mater, the University of Tampa (2013 and 2015-17). She is the daughter of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter.

ON THE HORIZON
> Following this week’s matches, San Diego State wraps up the first half of its Mountain West regular-season schedule, spliting two contests with UNLV and Boise State at home and on the road, respectively. The Aztecs will play host to the Rebels on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. PT, as part of the league’s Tuesday Night Block Party promotion on the Mountain West Network before heading to the Gem State for a clash with the Broncos on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. MT (5 p.m. PT).