Aztecs Cruise to 3-0 Sweep over UC Riverside

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Fresh off a grueling victory over Oregon, the San Diego State volleyball team notched its third straight win on Friday with a three-set sweep of UC Riverside (25-19, 25-18, 25-12) in its second match of the Long Beach State Tournament at Walter Pyramid.

Save for two ties, the Aztecs led throughout, limiting the Highlanders to a .041 hitting percentage for the day, including a minus-.074 clip in the third set, to raise their record to 4-3 overall. Meanwhile, UCR drops to 2-5 on the year with the loss.

SDSU’s depth was on full display, as six players recorded at least five kills, including a career-high nine put-aways by Annelise Rising, who led all players, while Talea Mitchell launched six non-returnables of her own, finishing with a .500 hitting percentage after completing 12 attempts without an error.

The Aztec attack also featured five kills apiece by Amber Keen, Ella Schabort, Natalie Hughes and Mila Gehlen, with the latter making her first collegiate start.

At the net, Keen (1 solo) and Mitchell tied for match-high honors with five blocks apiece, while Zara Stewart anchored SDSU’s back row with 16 digs to lead all competitors, while Kendall Mairs (15 assists) and Bella Jones (9 assists) shared the setting chores.

Collectively, the Aztecs maintained the advantage in most statistical categories, including kills (35-24), hitting percentage (.289 to .041), service aces (7-4), digs (46-36) and team blocks (11.0 to 2.0) to help move to 17-2 in the all-time series vs. the Highlanders.

SDSU led by as many as seven points in the opening set, as Mitchell and Gehlen combined on the block to give the Scarlet and Black an 18-11 cushion. However, UCR responded with a 7-1 surge, sparked by Vanessa Imoh and Layla Hooks, who knocked down two kills each, while Misu Nguyen served up a pair of aces, narrowing the gap to 19-18.

Unfazed, the Aztecs withstood the challenge with a strong 6-1 closing run, aided by an errant Highlander serve and an attack error. Meanwhile, Keen, Hughes and Rising all contributed kills down the stretch, with the latter providing the clinching point.

Despite a 14-10 deficit in kills, SDSU benefited from five unforced UCR attack errors in the frame while maintaining an edge in team blocks (3.0 to 0.0).

The Aztecs built a pair of six-point leads to open the second stanza, including a 12-6 advantage thanks to another kill by Rising. The Highlanders trimmed the margin to three points on three separate occasions, including a 15-12 spread following an SDSU attack miscue. However, UCR was unable to draw closer for the remainder of the set, as the Scarlet and Black employed a 10-6 run to keep the Highlanders at bay.

Schabort launched three kills in that span, while Mitchell joined forces with Gehlen and Rising on a pair of blocks, with the latter also flooring her final shot to secure the set and give the Aztecs a commanding 2-0 lead.

SDSU saved its best for last, posting its highest hitting percentage of the match with a .320 clip in the third set after blasting 11 kills in 25 attempts with just three errors. Conversely, UCR mustered just five kills against seven errors in the frame on 27 swings for a minus-.074 efficiency.

The Aztecs exhibited their incredible balance in the set, as Gehlen, Hughes and Mitchell supplied three kills apiece. SDSU cruised from the start, eventually building a 17-7 bulge following a Mitchell put-away and a service ace by Rylie Sengdara.

The Scarlet and Black kept its proverbial pedal to the metal, as Keen combined on a late block with Hughes, who soon followed with a kill to complete the sweep.

Imoh led the Highlanders with seven kills, while Andrea Brewer and Sophia Ewalefo finished with six put-aways each in the loss.

San Diego State wraps up this week’s tournament on Saturday, Sept. 13, when it locks horns with host Long Beach State at 7 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Beach clash will air live via subscription basis on ESPN+.