Aztecs Blank Lobos for Eighth Sweep of Season
With the Mountain West Championship rapidly approaching, the San Diego State volleyball team picked up a much-needed victory Thursday in its penultimate match of the regular season with a 3-0 whitewash of New Mexico (25-17, 25-18, 25-17) inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
SAN DIEGO – With the Mountain West Championship rapidly approaching, the San Diego State volleyball team picked up a much-needed victory in its penultimate match of the regular season Thursday with a 3-0 whitewash of New Mexico (25-17, 25-18, 25-17) inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
With the victory, the Aztecs complete their eighth sweep of the year, raising their record to 18-9 overall and 10-7 in conference play. In addition, SDSU avenges a heart-breaking five-set loss to the Lobos in Albuquerque earlier this season and snaps a six-match losing streak to UNM, which falls to 13-14 on the season and 6-11 in MW action.
The Aztecs posted their fourth-highest hitting percentage of the year with a .340 clip, maintaining a sizeable advantage in kills (46-28), team blocks and service aces (9-2) to spark their victory.
Conversely, SDSU limited the opposition to under a .200 efficiency for the 15th time this season, winning on each occasion, as New Mexico finished with a .160 hitting percentage for the night.
Individually, the Aztecs were led by Jasmine Davis (13) and Taylor Underwood (10), who surpassed the double-digit kill plateau, while Talea Mitchell blasted eight put-aways of her own to go with four blocks, including a pair of solo stops.
Kat Cooper (.556) also got into the act by launching six non-returnables and contributing four block assists, while Keira Herron tied her career best with four aces.
In addition, Andrea Campos (17 assists) and Sarena Gonzalez (15 assists) split the bulk of the setting chores, as the two players tied for team-high honors with eight digs.
The opening set was the most competitive of the match, as the teams combined for eight ties and six lead changes in the early going. Facing a 10-8 deficit, SDSU vaulted in front for good with six straight points, featuring two Davis kills and a pair of aces by Herron.
Clinging to a precarious 17-14 lead moments later, the Aztecs switched on the afterburners with an 8-3 blitz to capture the frame going away. Mitchell floored three shots to spark the run, while Underwood added two put-aways of her own. Shortly thereafter, Hughes delivered the final two points with a kill and a joint block with Cooper.
SDSU logged its highest hitting percentage of the night in the second stanza with a .379 pace, knocking down 16 kills in 29 attempts with just five errors. Davis shouldered much of the burden with five non-returnables in six swings against one miscue for a stellar .556 efficiency, while Underwood contributed three put-aways in that span.
The two sides traded several early punches once again before the Aztecs broke a 10-10 deadlock with consecutive kills by Hughes and Davis to take a lead they would not relinquish. SDSU increased its advantage to eight points on two occasions, including a 22-14 spread following a Mitchell kill, which effectively put the score out of reach.
Sensing a quick finish to the match, the Aztecs maintained their consistency in the third set, as Davis, Cooper and Mitchell smashed three kills apiece, while the entire Lobo squad mustered just seven put-aways in the frame, committing five errors in 27 attempts for a paltry .074 hitting percentage.
SDSU was never threatened after racing to a 9-3 lead, capped by Cooper and Mitchell’s combined block. Shortly thereafter, Rubright and Hughes joined forces on another rejection to give the hosts an insurmountable 17-8 advantage. The Aztecs ultimately completed the sweep thanks to two late kills by Rubright sandwiched around another Herron service ace.
New Mexico was led by Lauren Payne’s 10 kills, while Kialah Jefferson added five put-aways in the loss.
San Diego State wraps up its regular-season slate on Saturday when it plays host to Air Force at noon. Prior to their clash with the Falcons, the Aztecs will honor their senior class, recognizing the accomplishments of Andrea Campos, Jasmine Davis, McKenna Douglas, Mikela Labno and Shea Rubright.
In addition, SDSU will ascertain its first-round opponent at next week’s MW Championship when the bracket is revealed following the conclusion of Saturday's league matches.