Aztecs Post Four-Set Victory over UC San Diego in 2025 Home Opener

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team opened its 2025 home schedule in style Thursday with a four-set triumph over UC San Diego (25-16, 26-24, 18-25, 25-18) inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

The Aztecs out-hit the Tritons .369 to .264, maintaining the statistical advantage in kills (58-51), team blocks (11.0 to 6.0) and digs (45-41) to raise their record to 5-4 and improve to 16-0 all-time vs. UCSD (1-9), which dropped its ninth straight.

Individually, SDSU was led by Taylor Underwood, who equaled her season best with 18 kills to tie for match-high honors, while Madison posted a career-best .750 hitting percentage after launching 16 put-aways of her own in 20 attempts with just one error.

The Aztec cause was also bolstered by Amber Keen, who hit .562 on the night, blasting nine kills in 16 swings without an error while tying Campbell Hague with a match-high five blocks, as both players recorded one solo stuff.

Additionally, Mila Gehlen (.333) got into the act with seven kills, while Kendall Mairs notched her second double-double of the year with 26 assists and 11 digs, splitting the setting chores with Bella Jones, who dished out 16 helpers.

Elsewhere, Zara Stewart contributed to SDSU’s defensive efforts with 15 digs, which led all players, while Ella Schabort provided support at the net with four blocks, including a solo rejection.

The Aztecs limited the Tritons to a .087 efficiency in the opening set, as the visitors totaled just eight kills against six errors in 23 attempts in that span.

Underwood smashed seven kills in the frame, flooring a shot to spark a timely 12-2 run that put the hosts in control after UCSD trimmed an early deficit to 8-7.  The SDSU senior also launched a pair of non-returnables down the stretch, while Corf contributed another termination to help the Aztecs cruise.

The second stanza was a much tighter affair, as the two sides combined for 15 ties and seven lead changes. The Scarlet and Black faced a pair of early four-point deficits, including a 10-6 margin, before taking the lead on an Underwood kill and a bad Triton set, turning the set into a see-saw battle for the rest of the way.

The Tritons nursed a pair of late one-point leads, including a 24-23 spread after an Aztec attack error. However, the momentum quickly swung in the opposite direction, thanks to an errant UCSD serve, while Corf followed with consecutive kills, allowing the Scarlet and Black to escape with the frame.

Corf finished with eight kills on 10 attempts in the set, while Underwood floored five shots, as SDSU posted its highest hitting percentage of the night with a .419 clip after totaling 17 kills overall with just four errors in 31 attempts.

The Aztecs were unable to complete the sweep, as the Tritons overcame eight early ties to capture the third frame going away. Consecutive kills by Molly McCluskey broke a 10-10 deadlock and sparking a 12-5 run that put UCSD in command at 22-15. Following another McCluskey put-away, the Tritons received two late kills by Ireland McNees to keep the Scarlet and Black at bay.

Despite hitting .312 for the set, UCSD logged its best efficiency of the match with a .571 clip, knocking down 17 kills against one error in 28 swings for the frame.

The teams slugged it out in the fourth set, combining for eight ties and four lead changes. The Aztecs found themselves on the wrong side of a 17-16 tally before taking the lead for good on a Gehlen kill and a joint block by Schabort and Keen sandwiched around a Triton attack error.

Suddenly in possession of a 19-17 advantage, the Aztecs fashioned a strong 6-1 closing run to end the match. After teaming with Keen on another block, Schabort soon followed with a solo rejection and ultimately provided the clinching point with a kill, as the SDSU bench erupted in jubilation.

The Aztecs committed just one error in the frame, finishing with a .367 efficiency after blasting 12 kills on 30 attempts. Conversely, the Tritons ran out of steam in the final set, hitting at .154 clip, as eight errors offset 14 kills in 39 swings.

McNees tied Underwood with 18 kills for the night, while McCluskey (15) and Maria Fernanda Afonso (10) recorded double-digit put-aways in the loss.

San Diego State continues its homestand on Friday when it battles the University of San Diego at 7 p.m. The Toreros (6-3), who received votes in this weeks AVCA Division I coaches poll, defeated Yale at home on Thursday night.