Aztecs Fall in Grueling Five-Set Match at Boise State

BOISE, Idaho – The San Diego State volleyball team had its three-match winning streak snapped in a tough five-set loss to Boise State (24-26, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 15-17) in a Mountain West clash Thursday at Bronco Gym.

The Aztecs were unable to build on a 12-9 lead in the fifth set, as the Broncos closed with an 8-3 rush to escape with the victory. As a result, SDSU slips to 14-6 overall and 6-4 in conference play, while Boise State moves to 13-7 on the year and 5-4 in MW action.

All four of the Aztecs’ defeats to league opponents this season have occurred in five sets.

Despite maintaining the statistical advantage in kills (69-62) and digs (96-84), SDSU was plagued by 13 service aces, while the Broncos owned a sizeable edge in team blocks (17.0 to 9.0) to help key their win.

In addition, the Aztecs were unable to overcome 14 unforced attack errors, finishing with a sub-.200 hitting percentage (.191) for the second straight match, while Boise State posted a .217 clip.

Individually, three San Diego State players compiled double-digit kills, including Taylor Underwood (18), Jasmine Davis (17) and Shea Rubright (13). Underwood tied a season best with her performance, while Davis logged her sixth double-double of the year after scooping up a season-high 18 digs. With her total, the UConn transfer has amassed 1,007 digs for her career after surpassing the 1,000-kill plateau earlier this season.

Elsewhere, setters Fatimah Hall (31 assists, 14 digs) and Andrea Campos (28 assists, 12 digs) also recorded double-doubles of their own, while Gianna Bender finished with 20 scoops along the back row, followed by Keira Herron’s 13.

At the net, Rubright provided some spectacular moments with six block assists, followed by Natalie Hughes (4) and Amber Keen (1), who also contributed a solo stop.

However, the Aztecs were unable to contain the exploits of Paige Bartsch, who led all players with 23 kills while adding 19 digs to complete the double-double. In addition, Layla Smith (9 kills) and Annie Kaminski (7 kills) each posted eight block assists, while Breanna Mitchell (23 digs) and Elle Cotton (5 aces) finished with match high in their respective categories.

In the fifth set, SDSU twice reached match point at 14-13 and 15-14 on service errors by Bartsch and Mitchell, respectively, sandwiched around a misguided Aztec attack. Another errant swing by the visitors knotted the score at 15-15, before the Broncos’ Anabel Kotzakov followed with a kill and quickly joined forces with Smith on a block to saddle the Scarlet and Black with the disappointing loss.

Earlier, the Aztecs managed to extend the match after posting their best hitting percentage of the night in the fourth set, posting a .382 efficiency with 18 kills against five errors in 34 attempts. Davis shouldered much of the burden in the frame, launching seven non-returnables with just one miscue in eight swings for a sparkling .750 clip. In addition, Rubright added four kills and one service ace in that span.

SDSU fashioned a 17-11 lead on consecutive kills by Keen before Boise State responded with a frantic 11-3 blitz to vault in front 22-20. Smith bookended the run by joining forces with Kotzakov and Kiki Remensperger on a pair of blocks, respectively, while Cotton delivered a pair of aces.

Undaunted, the Aztecs regrouped with a timely 5-1 closing spurt, featuring three kills by Davis alone, including the clincher. In addition, Hughes and Keen combined on a block to help SDSU maintain the momentum and set the stage for a fifth and final set.

In all, the teams combined for 34 ties and 11 lead changes on the night.

San Diego State returns to action next week when it travels to the Front Range of the Rockies to battle Wyoming (Oct. 31) and Colorado State (Nov. 2).