Aztecs Edged by Houston in Five-Set Nail-Biter at Flo Hyman Classic

HOUSTON – Despite building a 2-1 advantage in sets, the San Diego State volleyball team was unable to close out Houston on Thursday, dropping a tough 3-2 decision (25-21, 15-25, 25-21, 20-25, 11-15) in the opening match of the Flo Hyman Classic at Fertitta Center.

In a hotly contested affair that witnessed 34 ties and 10 lead changes, the Aztecs ran out of steam at the end, hitting just .047 over the final two sets to slip to 1-2 on the young season.

Conversely, the Cougars hit .259 and came up with seven team blocks in that span to escape with the victory and remain unbeaten at 4-0 on the year. In addition, the host school posted a .361 efficiency in the fourth frame, knocking down 13 kills without an error in 36 attempts to send the contest to a fifth and deciding set.

In the first meeting between the two programs in 40 years, Houston owned a slight 54-52 advantage in kills, out-hitting the Scarlet and Black .271to .144 for the night, while maintaining the edge in team blocks (12.0 to 8.0) and service aces (7-4).

Individually, three SDSU players reached the double-digit kill plateau, including senior Taylor Underwood (.342), who tied for match-high honors with 18 put-aways, while junior Campbell Hague (.368) and junior transfer Ella Schabort terminated 10 shots apiece.

The Aztec cause was also aided by Kendall Mairs, who finished with 25 assists and seven digs, splitting the setting chores with fellow freshman Bella Jones, who dished out 18 helpers.

Not to be outdone, another Aztec newcomer excelled in the spotlight, as freshman Zara Stewart led all competitors with a career-high 19 digs, while junior Amber Keen came up with a match-best six blocks, including a solo stop.

Elsewhere, senior Keira Herron contributed 12 digs along the back row, while Schabort just missed a double-double after collecting nine scoops of her own.

In the decisive fifth set, Houston utilized a 5-1 surge to break a 5-5 deadlock. The Cougars benefited from two service errors and a wayward attack by SDSU, while Bre Reid served up an ace following a Halle Schroder kill.

Unfazed, the Aztecs stormed back with four straight points of their own when Schabort, Jones and Hague blasted consecutive kills, while Stewart followed with an ace to knot the score once again at 10-10.

However, SDSU was unable to seize the upper hand, as the Cougars employed another 5-1 outburst to close out the match. Reid and Avery Shimaitis each provided a kill and a block to key the timely run. The host school reached match point courtesy of Shimaitis’ solo stop, while Reid joined forces with Barakat Rahmon on a rejection moments later for the clincher.

Reid tied the Aztecs’ Underwood with 18 kills, while Schroder (14) and Shimaitis (11) also surpassed the double-digit barrier in kills. In addition, Lottie Scully led all players with 41 assists, while Gillian Pitts totaled 13 digs in the win.

The two sides set the tone for a tight battle, combining for 12 ties in the opening set, before SDSU took the lead for good at 16-15 courtesy of a Mairs service ace. Moments later, Hague launched a pair of kills and teamed up with Talea Mitchell on a block to help give the Scarlet and Black a 20-16 cushion.

The Cougars twice narrowed the gap to one, including a 21-20 spread following a bad set. However, the Aztecs withstood the challenge, uncorking a 4-1 closing run to capture the set. Underwood sparked the blitz with two kills, while Keen combined with Natalie Hughes on a block for the clinching point.

SDSU posted its highest hitting percentage for the match with a .423 clip, knocking down 13 kills on 26 attempts with just two errors. Underwood floored five shots in the frame, while Keen and Hughes wreaked havoc at the net with four block assists.

The Aztecs were unable to sustain the momentum in the second stanza, posting a .033 efficiency after nine errors offset 10 kills on 30 swings. On the flip side, Houston hit .357 for the set, finishing with 12 kills against two errors in 28 attempts.

With the score tied at 3-3, the Cougars scored eight straight points to seize control of the frame. SDSU shot itself in the proverbial foot during that stretch with three attack errors, while Kellen Morin supplied a kill and a solo block for the hosts. Houston soon led by as many as 12 points, building an insurmountable 23-11 advantage following a Reid kill.

Despite trailing in kills (13-10) in the third frame, the Aztecs benefited from six attack errors and three wayward serves by the Cougars to prevail in another tight set, which witnessed 13 ties. Following a 15-15 deadlock, SDSU vaulted in front for good on an Underwood kill and an errant Houston attack. Clinging to a precarious 22-20 lead shortly thereafter, the Aztecs kept the Cougars at bay with a 3-1 closing run, capped by two Underwood kills.  

However, SDSU was stymied in its bid to close out the match, committing 10 attack errors in the fourth set, which offset 14 kills on 41 attempts for a .098 efficiency. Houston capitalized on those miscues to overcome six service errors while maintaining a 4-0 edge in team blocks to help extend the match.

The Aztecs trailed by as many as six points, including a 20-14 margin following an attack error. Kills by Underwood and Mitchell sandwiched between a pair of service errors helped narrow the gap to 21-18. However, the deficit proved too large to overcome, as the Cougars employed a 4-2 closing run, punctuated by a Reid kill, to send the contest to a decisive fifth set.

San Diego State will have little time to dwell on its defeat, as the Aztecs resume competition at the Flo Hyman Classic with a clash against LSU on Friday, Sept. 5, at 4:30 p.m. CT/2:30 p.m. PT. The Tigers (2-2), who are receiving votes in this week’s AVCA Division I poll, swept Omaha in their tournament opener on Thursday afternoon.