Aztecs Set For Road Tests at Wyoming, Colorado State

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team continues its road swing this weekend when it travels to the Front Range of the Rockies to battle Wyoming and Colorado in a pair of Mountain West matches.

The Aztecs (14-6, 6-4 MW) will square off against the Cowgirls (13-7, 5-5 MW) on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 6:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. PT before locking horns with the Rams on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. MT/noon PT.

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

Entering the week, SDSU sits in a tie for fifth place with Boise State (13-7, 6-4 MW) in the conference standings, one-half game behind Utah State (10-11, 7-4 MW) and one game behind Fresno State (11-10, 7-3 MW) and San José State (11-3, 7-3 MW), while Colorado State (12-8, 8-2 MW) occupies the top perch. The top six finishing teams will qualify for the Mountain West Championship, Nov. 27-30, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Aztecs will face their remaining conference opponents in the inverse order of their first-half MW schedule. SDSU defeated Colorado State and Wyoming in successive matches for the first time since the 2012 campaign after those two squads visited “America’s Finest City” two weeks ago.

QUICK HITS
San Diego State has been idle since Oct. 24, when it dropped a five-set heartbreaker at Boise State (24-26, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 15-17). The Aztecs were unable to build on a 12-9 lead in the decisive fifth set, as the Broncos employed an 8-3 closing rush to escape with the victory.

Despite owning the statistical advantage in kills (69-62) and digs (96-84), SDSU was plagued by 13 service aces, while Boise State maintained a sizeable edge in team blocks (17.0 to 9.0) to help key its 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 the Broncos 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 racking 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.

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

Despite the loss, at 14-6, the Aztecs are still off to their best start since the 1995 squad compiled an 18-2 record through its first 20 matches that season.

San Diego State has posted more kills than the opposition in all but one match this year (14-5) and has registered a greater hitting percentage on 16 occasions (13-3). 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 14 matches (11-3) already this year 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 (4-5) compared to last year (0-3).

SDSU is a combined 10-0 this season when one or two players surpass the double-digit kill plateau but is just 4-6 when three or more competitors post 10 or more put-aways in a match.

The Aztecs are 4-0 thus far in matches following a loss and 9-6 in contests following a victory.

For the season, Shea Rubright owns a league-leading .464 hitting percentage, which ranks second in the nation as of Oct. 30.

SERIES RECORD VS. WYOMING
After posting a 3-0 whitewash (25-23, 25-16, 25-19) against the Cowgirls at Peterson Gym on Oct. 19, San Diego State leads the all-time series against Wyoming 39-26 in 65 meetings since 1985. In addition, the Aztecs swept the Cowgirls in a match for the first time since Sept. 29, 2011, in San Diego.

In that contest, SDSU logged its fifth-best hitting percentage of the year and highest in MW play with a .318 efficiency, committing just eight errors for the day against 43 kills in 110 attempts. On the flip side, the SDSU defense limited the Cowgirls to a .197 clip, as the host school benefited from 16 attack errors and 11 wayward serves.

Collectively, the Aztecs maintained the statistical advantage in team blocks (8.0 to 2.0) while holding the edge in kills (43-39) and digs (54-53) to help fuel their sixth sweep of the 2024 campaign.

Individually, Taylor Underwood blasted a match-high 14 kills with just one error in 24 attempts for a stellar .542 hitting percentage. The SDSU opposite hitter also came up huge defensively with three blocks, including a solo stuff.

In addition, the Scarlet and Black received nine kills from Jasmine Davis, who just missed a double-double after collecting 11 digs, while Shea Rubright (.312) launched seven non-returnables of her own to go with two block assists and a service ace.

SERIES RECORD VS. COLORADO STATE
The Aztecs trail the all-time series against the Rams 50-19. However, SDSU was victorious in its last encounter with Colorado State on Oct. 17, completing a dramatic five-set victory (19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 25-20, 15-11).

The two teams were evenly matched, with the Aztecs holding a slight edge in kills (67-65) and team blocks (8.0 to 7.0). Additionally, the Scarlet and Black served up a season-high 11 aces to key the win.

After hitting just .062 in the opening set with 10 kills offset by eight errors in 32 attempts, San Diego State posted a .333 efficiency for the remainder of the match to help complete the reverse sweep.

Freshman Talea Mitchell tied for match-high honors with a career-best 24 kills, while Taylor Underwood and Jasmine Davis racked up 10 put-aways each.

The Aztecs saved their best for last, hitting .421 in the final frame with 10 kills against just two errors in 19 attempts. After an early 3-3 deadlock, SDSU vaulted in front for good with an 8-3 surge, as consecutive put-aways by Underwood and Mitchell increased the host school’s advantage to 11-6.

The Rams twice narrowed the gap to two, including a 13-11 margin after an Aztec attack error. However, the Scarlet and Black extinguished any threat of a CSU comeback, thanks to Rubright and Natalie Hughes, who smashed back-to-back kills, as the SDSU bench erupted in jubilation.

SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
Entering the week, Shea Rubright leads the Mountain West with a .464 hitting percentage, which ranks second in the nation as of Oct. 30. The Aztec middle blocker also slotted 10th in the league in blocks (1.12/set).

Additionally, Gianna Bender has climbed into the seventh position in digs (3.51/set), while setter Fatimah Hall occupies the eighth position in assists (5.30/set).

Elsewhere, Taylor Underwood tops the squad with 3.55 points and 3.20 kills per set, which rank ninth and 10th in the conference, respectively, while Kat Cooper is tied for 10th in hitting percentage (.326).

Sarena Gonzalez has logged the league’s highest assist total in a single match this season, dishing out 60 helpers against Eastern Washington, while Rubright is tied for the top spot with 11 blocks vs. UNLV.

The Aztecs boast three 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) are tied for fourth and seventh, respectively. In addition, the Aztec graduate senior finished with a .611 efficiency at New Mexico, which is slotted 11th.

Elsewhere, Mitchell’s 24 kills vs. Colorado State are tied for the 10th-best total in the Mountain West this season, while her 16 put-aways against Seattle represents the seventh-highest total for a three-set match.

Three Aztecs also share the 11th 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 (13.59/set) and assists (12.76/set) while ranking second in hitting percentage (.268). In addition, the Scarlet and Black has climbed to fourth in digs (13.98/set) while occupying the sixth position in blocks (2.27) and the seventh spot in service aces (1.41/set).

On the national level, SDSU is slotted 24th in hitting percentage, 29th in assists, and 36th in kills.

San Diego State’s 77 kills at New Mexico marks the best team performance in the MW thus far, while its 70-kill effort vs. Utah State is tied for third.  The Aztecs also recorded 68 put-aways against CSUN and EWU, which are tied for seventh.

SDSU’s season-high 17 team blocks against UNLV are tied for the sixth-best total in the conference thus far.

Additionally, the Aztecs’ .366 hitting percentage vs. Seattle ranks 10th in the league.

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

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.

DAVIS REACHES CAREER MILESTONES
Outside hitter Jasmine Davis combined for 17 put-aways in a pair of home matches against Utah State and Nevada earlier this month, giving her over 1,000 kills for her career after spending her first four collegiate seasons at UConn (2019-22). Through Oct. 30, the SDSU graduate senior has amassed 1,074 put-aways as a collegian.

Davis also surpassed the 1,000-dig plateau for her career (1,007) after collecting a season-high 18 scoops at Boise State on Oct. 24.

Entering the weekend, Davis ranks second on the team in kills (2.64/set) and digs (2.64/set) while sharing the third spot with 17 service aces.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSTION
Wyoming (13-7, 5-5 MW) finds itself one game behind the Aztecs in the conference standings after logging a pair of four-set victories on the road last week at Air Force (27-29, 25-11, 25-18, 27-25) and New Mexico (25-16, 19-25, 25-16, 25-18).

With the sweep, Cowgirl outside hitter Paige Lauterwasser was named MW Offensive Player of the Week after averaging 4.13 kills per set (33 overall) while logging a .338 hitting percentage in the two matches.

For the season, Lauterwasser ranks eighth in the conference in kills (3.53/set), while right-side hitter Emma Winter (2.51) and middle blocker Sarah Holcomb (2.05) are also averaging over two put-aways per set. Additionally, Holcomb is slotted ninth in hitting percentage (.336).

Not to be outdone, libero Sierra Grizzle tops the conference with 4.20 digs per set, while Holcomb (1.34/set) and fellow middle Kayla Mazzocca (1.23/set) occupy the first and third spots in blocks, respectively.

Elsewhere, setter Kasia Partyka ranks third in the MW with 9.72 assists per set, while Grizzle is slotted 10th in aces (0.34/set).

As a team, the Cowgirls occupy the second position in the league in blocks (2.68/set) and the fifth spot in digs (13.95/set). As a result, opponents are hitting just .178 against Wyoming, which is good for second in the MW.  Conversely, the Cowgirls rank fourth in the conference in hitting percentage (.228), fourth in aces (1.55/set) and fifth in kills (12.71/set).

Wyoming has played just six homes matches this season, posting a 4-2 mark at UniWyo Sports Complex, while combining for a 9-5 ledger in road/neutral contests.

Meanwhile, Colorado State (12-8, 8-2 MW) has won three straight to maintain its lofty perch atop the conference standings. The Rams are coming off a pair of victories last week, recording a four-set triumph over New Mexico in Albuquerque (25-17, 25-27, 25-19, 25-19) before sweeping Air Force at the home (25-14, 25-16, 25-17). Prior to Saturday’s showdown with the Aztecs, CSU will play host to UNLV on Thursday night.

Individually, the Rams are paced by outside hitter Malaya Jones, who leads the conference with 4.34 kills per set, which ranks 24th in the nation, while middle blocker Naeemah Weathers (2.41), outside hitter Kennedy Stanford (2.09) and middle blocker Karina Leber (2.03) are also averaging over two put-aways per frame. In addition, Weathers tops the squad with a .431 hitting percentage, which ranks second in the league and eighth in the country.

Not to be outdone, setter Emery Herman’s MW-leading 10.48 assists per set is good for 25th nationally, while libero Kate Yoshimoto is slotted eighth in the conference this week in digs (3.42/set).

Collectively, the Rams occupy the 14th spot in the country with a conference-best .288 hitting percentage while ranking second in both kills (13.54/set) and assists (12.49/set). Additionally, opponents are hitting .206 against the Rams, who are slotted eighth in the MW in blocks (2.18/set) and 10th in digs (12.94/set).

UP NEXT
Following this weekend’s road swing, San Diego State returns to the friendly environs of Aztec Court to host Fresno State on Thursday, Nov. 7 (6 p.m.), before welcoming San José State on Saturday, Nov. 9 (noon).