SAN DIEGO – San Diego State senior Taylor Underwood and junior Amber Keen were named to the all-tournament team at the SDSU/USD Jack Talmadge Volleyball Classic for their performances in three matches, Sept. 18-20.
A two-time all-Mountain West honoree, Underwood was the Aztecs’ offensive leader against UC San Diego, San Diego and Yale, topping the squad with 51 kills and 4.25 kills per set. The SDSU opposite hitter recorded double-digit put-aways in all three matches while combining for seven block assists.
Meanwhile, Keen paced the Scarlet and Black with a .490 hitting percentage, launching 28 kills (2.33/set), which ranked second on the team, committing three errors in 51 attacks. The Aztec middle blocker also topped the squad with 13 blocks (1.00/set), including three solo efforts.
Against UCSD, Underwood logged a season-best .359 hitting percentage in a four-set triumph, tying for match-high honors with 18 kills against four errors in 39 attempts.
Keen also figured prominently in that victory over the Tritons, posting a .563 efficiency after knocking down nine kills without an error in 16 attempts while tying for match-high honors with five blocks, including a solo effort.
The following night against USD, which was receiving votes in the AVCA Division I coaches poll, Underwood blasted a season-high 19 kills in a narrow five-set defeat, including five in the third set that kept the Aztecs’ comeback hopes alive.
Keen also enjoyed another solid outing in that encounter, hitting at a .500 clip after launching 12 kills against two miscues in 20 swings. Additionally, she contributed a team-high four blocks, including a solo stuff.
In a tough three-set loss to Yale, Underwood led all players with 14 kills, including six in the third set, when she hit .385 with one error in 13 attempts.
Meanwhile, Keen (.400) smashed seven kills against the Bulldogs and finished the weekend with three more blocks, including another solo stop.
For the season, Underwood raised her kill average from 2.88 to 3.32 per set, which now ranks fifth in the Mountain West.
In addition, Keen leads the team with a .333 overall hitting percentage, which is slotted fourth the conference and tops the squad
San Diego State opens Mountain West play this week with a pair of road matches at Fresno State (Sept. 25) and San José State (Sept. 27). Both contests will air live on the MW Network.
Jack Talmadge Volleyball Classic
All-Tournament Team
San Diego State
Taylor Underwood, OPP
Amber Keen, MB
San Diego
Isabel Clark, OH
Kali Engeman, MB
UC San Diego
Mika Rome, S
Kayla Uhlick, DS
Yale
Betsy Goodenow, RS
Laurece Abraham, MB