Aztecs Fall to California in Four Sets in 2025 Season Opener

BERKELEY, Calif. – The San Diego State volleyball team gave host California all it could handle on Friday before dropping a tough four-set decision (21-25, 28-26, 12-25, 22-25) in the season opener for both teams at Haas Pavilion.

In the first match of their home tournament, the Golden Bears overcame an 18-14 deficit in the fourth stanza with an 11-4 closing run to secure the win and thwart the Aztecs’ efforts to force a fifth and deciding frame.

Despite maintaining a 49-39 advantage in kills, SDSU was plagued by 11 service aces, while Cal owned a slim edge in team blocks (11.0 to 9.0) to help fuel the victory.

Neither side hit very well for the match, with the Aztecs committing 32 attack errors in 167 attempts for a .102 efficiency, while the Bears finished with a .085 clip after record 27 miscues on 141 swings.

Individually, the Scarlet and Black featured three players with double-digit kill totals, including 13 apiece by Madison Corf and Ella Schabort, while Taylor Underwood followed closely with 12 put-aways of her own.

The SDSU cause was also aided by Natalie Hughes, who set a career high with seven block assists, while freshman Zara Stewart anchored the back row with a team-best 17 digs.

Kendall Mairs, another newcomer, dished out 25 assists in her collegiate debut, while fellow setter Sarena Gonzalez just missed a double-double after posting 13 assists and nine digs.

The teams combined for 23 ties and 13 lead changes in a see-saw affair.

The Aztecs nursed a slim 5-3 in the opening set until Cal vaulted in front for good with six consecutive points, capitalizing on four straight SDSU attack errors sandwiched between kills by Arissa Carbonara and Sawyer Thomsen.

The Scarlet and Black remained within striking distance, twice trimming the margin to two down the stretch, including a 23-21 spread following an errant Bear attack. However, the Aztecs could draw no closer after the ensuing serve when awry, while Francesca Popescu followed with an ace to keep the visitors at bay.

In a thrilling second stanza, SDSU rallied from a 17-12 deficit to grab a series of late one-point leads, including a 26-25 edge after an Underwood kill. Carbonara quickly answered with her own non-returnable to knot the score once again before the host school stumbled, allowing the Aztecs to escape. Carbonara next attempt, while Ashleigh Woodruff was called for a blocking error for the clinching San Diego State point, which evened the match at one set apiece.

Buoyed by their good fortune, the Scarlet and Black was unable to sustain the momentum in the third frame, as Cal broke a 4-4 deadlock with six straight points and was never threatened. Kills by Carbonara and Peyton Dejardin followed by an Aztec attack error gave the host school a commanding 19-8 advantage.

SDSU looked to regroup in the fourth set but found itself on the wrong side of a 10-5 score after a Woodruff kill. However, the Aztecs flashed their mettle, crafting a 13-4 blitz to seize an 18-14 lead.  Underwood sparked the run with three kills, while Hughes and Amber Keen combined on a pair of blocks, with the latter also providing a solo stop.

The Bears fought back to tie the score with four straight points, but the Scarlet and Black still owned a pair of two-point leads, including a 21-19 spread following a kill by Mairs. However, Woodruff floored a shot on the ensuing rally, while Carbonara followed with consecutive aces to spark a 6-1 closing surge to stun the Aztecs.

SDSU suffered a pair of mishandled passes down the stretch, while DeJardin ended the night with a kill.

Dejardin led all players with 15 kills, while Natalie Lau and Sophia Johnson each totaled game highs with 33 assists and 19 digs, respectively.

San Diego State wraps up its brief excursion to the Bay Area on Saturday, Aug. 30, when it battles San Francisco at the Cal Tournament, beginning at 1 p.m. PT.