Aztecs Celebrate Senior Day with Sweep of Air Force
With one eye on next week’s Mountain West Championship, the San Diego State volleyball team began fine-tuning its game Saturday with an impressive three-set victory over Air Force (25-19, 25-21, 25-22) to highlight Senior Day festivities inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
SAN DIEGO – With one eye on next week’s Mountain West Championship, the San Diego State volleyball team began fine-tuning its game Saturday with an impressive three-set victory over Air Force (25-19, 25-21, 25-22) to highlight Senior Day festivities inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
With the sweep, the Aztecs notched their second whitewash in three days, finishing the regular season with a 19-9 overall record, the program’s best mark since the 2012 campaign.
In addition, SDSU fashioned an 11-7 ledger in conference, earning the No. 5 seed in the MW Championship in Las Vegas Nevada, where it will face fourth-seeded Fresno State in the first round on Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m. PT inside UNLV’s Cox Pavilion.
For the second straight match, the Aztecs held their opponent under a .200 hitting percentage, improving to 16-0 in that category for the season after limiting the Falcons to a .135 clip en route the season sweep.
Conversely, SDSU moved to 7-1 this year in matches hitting over .300 after posting a .311 efficiency on Saturday, as the Scarlet and Black maintained the advantage in kills (42-32) and team blocks (10.0 to 5.0) to help key the victory.
Taylor Underwood led all players with 15 kills, hitting .464 on the day with just two errors in 28 attempts to go with four block assists. The Aztec cause was also bolstered by Jasmine Davis, who finished with eight kills and 10 digs, while Shea Rubright flashed her all-round game by blasting seven kills in 13 swings without an error for a .538 efficiency while leading all players with six block assists.
In addition, Keira Herron aided SDSU’s defensive efforts with a team-high 11 digs, while Gianna Bender collected 10 scoops of her own and matched her season high with three service aces.
As custom of late, Andrea Campos (17 assists, 7 digs) and Sarena Gonzalez (16 assists, 7 digs) split the setting chores, while Natalie Hughes totaled three block assists, followed by Amber Keen’s two assisted rejections.
The Aztecs led by as many as six points in the opening set, as a Bender ace and a Falcon attack error provided the hosts with a seemingly comfortable 17-11 advantage. However, Air Force remained in contention thanks to a 6-2 spurt that narrowed the gap to 19-17. Jordan Suan served up two aces in that span, while Annamaria Ramos knocked down a pair of kills.
Undaunted, SDSU displayed its finishing kick with a strong 6-2 rush to close out the frame. Underwood blasted two late kills, including the clincher, after Kat Cooper and Davis earlier floored one shot apiece.
The Aztecs logged their best hitting percentage of the match with a .382 clip in the second stanza, smashing 17 kills in 34 attempts with just four errors. Rubright (.750) almost took matters into her own hands, launching six non-returnables in the frame on just eight swings without an error while contributing three block assists. Not to be outdone, SDSU flaunted its tremendous balance, as Underwood totaled three put-aways in that stretch, while Davis, Hughes, Keen and Talea Mitchell added two each.
Still, the Aztecs nursed a 17-15 lead after the Falcons’ Ellie Eichhorn served up an ace. However, SDSU displayed its trademark resiliency with a late 8-6 run to keep the visitors at bay. Underwood ignited the surge with two put-aways sandwiched around a joint block with Rubright, who fittingly provided the clinching point moments later.
The Aztecs needed another timely run in the third and final frame to shake a pesky Air Force squad that held a slim 17-16 advantage following an SDSU service error. Unfazed, the Scarlet and Black quickly regrouped with a 7-2 blitz to vault in front for good. Underwood blasted four kills alone in that span, while Bender added an ace.
Air Force threw in one last scare, trimming the margin to 23-22 following consecutive kills by Mekayla Dedo, Brooksie Isham and Ramos. However, the Falcons were unable to seize the upper hand, committing an attack error on the ensuing serve, while Davis promptly extinguished any comeback hopes with a quick kill, as the Aztec bench erupted in jubilation.
Ella Tschuor led the visitors with nine kills, while Suan posted a match-high 14 digs in the loss.
Prior to Saturday’s contest, San Diego State held a special ceremony for its senior class, recognizing the accomplishments of Andrea Campos, Jasmine Davis, McKenna Douglas, Mikela Labno, and Shea Rubright.