Spirited Aztec Rally Falls Short vs. USD on Friday

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit on Friday, but a spirited comeback fell short in a 3-2 loss (16-25, 25-27, 25-16, 25-20, 9-15) to visiting San Diego in a crosstown matchup inside a jammed-packed Aztec Court at Peterson Gym. 

Looking to even the contest after the Toreros captured the opening set, the Aztecs built a 22-14 lead late in the second stanza, only to see the visitors battle back to escape, forcing the Scarlet and Black into pursuit mode for the remainder of the night.

Despite maintaining a 61-54 advantage in kills, SDSU (5-5) was out-hit for the match .229 to .196, while USD (7-3) held a 14.0 to 9.0 advantage in team blocks to help key its victory.

Individually, the Aztecs were led by the trio of Taylor Underwood, Amber Keen and Ella Schabort, who combined for 43 of the team’s 61 kills, while Kendall Mairs completed her second straight double-double with career-highs of 27 assists and 16 digs, sharing the setter duties with Bella Jones, who dished out 19 helpers of her own.

Underwood launched a season-best 19 put-aways, while Keen (.500) and Schabort blasted 12 apiece. Keen also made her presence felt at the net, finishing with four blocks, including a solo effort, while Campbell Hague (7 kills) contributed three rejections as well.

In addition, SDSU’s fortunes were bolstered by Zara Stewart, who tied Mairs for match-high honors with 16 digs.

SDSU was limited to a minus-.061 efficiency in the first set, knocking down eight kills against 10 errors in 33 attempts. Still, the Aztecs found themselves deadlocked at 11-11 before committing two straight attack errors, while Tatum Lane followed with a service error to put the Toreros in front for good at 14-11.

SDSU remained within striking distance, narrowing the gap to 17-15 following a kill by Hague. However, USD fashioned a strong 8-1 closing run to capture the frame. Nemo Beach collected two kills in that span and ultimately served up an ace for the clinching point.

The Aztecs seemed poised to even the contest after building a 22-14 advantage late in the second stanza, capped by three consecutive Underwood kills. However, the Toreros spoiled those plans with a proverbial block party, posting four rejections to highlight a furious 9-1 blitz, while Beach contributed three kills in that span to help give the visitors a 24-23 edge.

SDSU twice tied the score on kills by Schabort, including a 25-25 tally, but the Scarlet and Black committed an attack error on the ensuing serve, while Isabel Clark followed with a termination to stun the Aztec faithful and give the visitors a commanding 2-0 lead on the set scoreboard.

Stung, the Aztecs quickly raced to a 10-1 lead to open the third frame, highlighted by four Underwood kills, while USD committed five unforced attack errors. SDSU turned on the cruise control at this juncture, as Hague served up an ace down the stretch, while Underwood and Keen each floored a shot to help the hosts extend the match.

Both teams unleashed an offensive fury in the fourth set, as the Scarlet and Black recorded its best hitting percentage of the night with a .533 clip, thanks to 19 kills on 30 attempts with just three errors, while the Toreros hit .409 (12-3-22). Individually, Schabort launched six non-returnables against one miscue in 11 swings for a .455 efficiency in the frame.

After eight early ties, including an 11-11 deadlock, the Aztecs vaulted in front for good on back-to-back kills by Schabort, while Keen soon followed with another termination. SDSU methodically increased its advantage for the remainder of the set, with Underwood, Keen and Mila Gehlen each providing two late kills to help keep the Toreros at bay.

With Peterson Gym abuzz, the Aztecs headed into the fifth and final set looking to complete a reverse sweep. However, the dramatic finish never materialized after the Scarlet and Black fell behind 6-1. Beach knocked down a pair of early kills, while Lauren Lynch served up an ace to help give USD a lead it would not relinquish.

SDSU twice trimmed the deficit to four, including an 11-7 spread following an Underwood termination. However, the Toreros responded with two kills by Beach and one apiece by Engeman and Clark to extinguish the Aztecs’ comeback hopes.

Beach led all players with 21 kills, while Engeman finished with a match-high 10 blocks, including a pair of solo rejections for USD, a team that received votes in the latest AVCA Division I coaches poll. Additionally, Kylie Munday dished out 43 assists, while Olivia Bennett tied the Aztecs’ Mairs and Stewart with 16 digs on the night.

San Diego State wraps up its homestand on Saturday, Sept. 20, when it locks horns with Yale at 1 p.m. PT. The Bulldogs (3-4) were victorious in five sets over UC San Diego on Friday.