Total Team Effort Propels Aztecs Past Fresno State in Five Sets

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team received double-digit kills from five players, helping the Aztecs outlast Fresno State in five sets (25-16, 22-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-10) Thursday in a Mountain West clash on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

With the victory, the Aztecs snap a three-match slide to the Bulldogs and avenge a five-set defeat in Fresno last month, improving to 16-7 on the season and 8-5 in conference play. In addition, SDSU solidified its hold on fifth place in the Mountain West standings, trailing Utah State (12-11, 9-4 MW) and Fresno State (13-11, 9-4 MW), who are now tied for third, one game ahead of the Aztecs.

Since the fall of 2021, five of the SDSU’s last eight matches vs. the Bulldogs have gone to five sets, as the two sides combined for 23 ties and 11 lead changes on Thursday night.

The Aztecs' balanced attack featured 12 kills each by Kat Cooper and Jasmine Davis, followed by Taylor Underwood (11), Natalie Hughes (11) and Talea Mitchell (10).

Cooper hit .647 for the night, committing just one error in 17 attempts, with her 12 put-aways tying a career high. In addition, the SDSU junior set a collegiate best with six block assists.

Not to be outdone, Hughes’ total of 11 non-returnables also matched a career high.

Meanwhile, Underwood flashed her prowess at the net, equaling her personal best with five blocks, including a career-high three solo stops.

The Aztecs also boasted five individuals with double-digit dig totals, including Gianna Bender’s team-best 20 scoops, while Kiera Herron provided back-row support with 10 digs of her own.

Elsewhere, Davis completed her seventh double-double of the year after collecting 15 digs, while Sarena Gonzalez (25 assists, 11 digs) and Andrea Campos (24 assists, 10 digs), who shared the setting duties, accomplished the feat as well, along with Bender, who dished out a career-high 10 helpers.

Collectively, SDSU held an opponent to a hitting percentage under .200 for the sixth time in its last 10 matches after limiting the Bulldogs to a .188 clip on Thursday. In addition, the Aztecs maintained a slight edge in team blocks (13.0 to 11.0), including four assisted rejections by Mitchell and Shea Rubright, while Hughes also helped out on three stops.

The two sides combined for 29 service errors, including 16 by Fresno State, but San Diego State owned the statistical advantage in kills (64-49) to help key its victory.

The fourth set witnessed 10 ties and six lead changes, as the Scarlet and Black looked to close out the match after building a 2-1 lead on the set scoreboard. Nursing a slim 19-18 advantage following a Campos service ace, SDSU was unable to produce a finishing kick, however, as the Bulldogs closed with a 7-1 rush to tie the match. Ella Rud sparked the run with a pair of kills sandwiched around consecutive aces by Brooke Cowie, while Kasey Purry joined forces with Jenna Legault on a block before recording a solo stuff for the clinching point.

In the decisive fifth frame, the Aztecs found themselves clinging to another precarious 5-4 lead before crafting a timely 7-2 surge to seize control. SDSU benefited from two errant attacks and a pair of wayward serves in that stretch, while Underwood floored a shot before Campos served up back-to-back aces.

The Bulldogs responded with three straight points on two Purry kills sandwiched around a Rud ace. However, the Aztecs quickly dashed Fresno State’s comeback hopes thanks to a Davis put-away and a Rubright ace, while Hughes soon followed with a kill to secure the match.

Rud led all players with 13 kills, while Addison Haluska finished with 11 non-returnables of her own and racked up 10 digs to complete a double-double. Additionally, Purry posted a match-high seven blocks, including three solo efforts, while Cowie (36 assists, 10 digs) also recorded a double-double in the loss.

Save for a 1-1 tie, SDSU was never threatened in the opening frame after limiting the Bulldogs to a .000 hitting percentage (9-9-35) thanks in part to seven blocks, including four assisted stops by Rubright and Mitchell, while Cooper helped out on three others. Hughes also got into the act by joining forces with Rubright on a pair of late rejections, while Cooper followed with consecutive kills, as the Scarlet and Black captured the set going away by a 25-16 margin.

The match turned into a slugfest in the second stanza where the Aztecs logged their highest efficiency of the night with a .357 clip, blasting 19 kills against four errors on 42 swings with just four errors. Meanwhile, Fresno State countered with a .341 pace, flooring 15 of 41 shots with only one miscue. The teams combined for seven ties in the frame, including a 21-21 deadlock after a kill by SDSU’s Cara Braun.

However, the Bulldogs responded with a 4-1 closing run to escape with the set. Purry and Haluska each knocked down a kill before teaming up on a block, while Rud launched a non-returnable moments later for the clinching point.

In the third set, the Aztecs employed a timely 10-3 blitz to break open a tight 12-10 score. Underwood shouldered much of the burden in that stretch, smashing two kills after contributing a pair of solo blocks. Additionally, the Scarlet and Black benefited from two errant serves to help build an insurmountable 22-13 advantage.

San Diego State closes out its weekend homestand on Saturday when it battles San José State at noon. The Spartans (13-4, 10-4 MW) were stymied in four sets at UNLV on Thursday night.

The Aztecs-SJSU clash will air live on the Mountain West Network. For ticket information log on to GoAztecs.com.