Aztecs Fall to LSU in Another Five-Set Heartbreaker

HOUSTON – LSU dealt San Diego State another heartbreak on Friday after rallying for a five-set triumph (25-19, 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 15-12) on the second day of the Flo Hyman Classic at Fertitta Center.

For the second straight match, the Aztecs built a 2-1 lead in sets but were unable to close out their opponent, falling to 1-3 on the year, while the Tigers, who were receiving votes in the latest AVCA Division I coaches poll, remain unbeaten at 5-0 on the young season.

Complete statistics for the SDSU-LSU clash were unavailable at press time. With the loss, the Aztecs slip to 3-3 in the all-time series vs. the Tigers after the two programs met for the first time since the 2013 campaign.

San Diego State senior Taylor Underwood reached the 1,000-kill plateau for her career after launching a non-returnable midway through the third set that gave the Scarlet and Black a 15-11 lead.

In the opening frame, the two sides battled through four early ties before LSU took the lead for good on an errant Aztec serve and a kill by Tireh Smith. SDSU remained within striking distance, trimming the deficit to one on several occasions, including a 16-15 spread following an Amber Keen termination.

However, the Tigers employed 9-4 blitz to close out the set. The Aztecs were plagued by four unforced attack errors in the span, including one that accounted for LSU’s clinching point. In addition, the Tigers’ Jurnee Robinson knocked down a kill and contributed a solo block, while Ella Hemmings served up an ace.

Stung, the Scarlet and Black stormed out the gates in the second stanza, building an 8-2 advantage after Keen floored another shot. The SDSU advantage gradually evaporated, however, as Nia Washington launched consecutive kills to cap a 15-9 surge that knotted the score at 17-17.

Undaunted, the Aztecs vaulted in front for good after an errant serve by Robinson, while Ella Schabort followed with a kill and Keira Herron served up an ace to give SDSU a 20-17 cushion.

The Tigers narrowed the gap to 21-20 on a Washington put-away but were unable to seize the upper hand. The Aztecs received a pair of late kills by Natalie Hughes and Underwood, while Annelise Rising supplied the clinching point moments later with a non-returnable of her own.

In the third set, SDSU overcame an early 8-4 deficit, ultimately grabbing a 20-17 lead to force an LSU timeout. The break did little to improve the Tigers’ fortune, as the Scarlet and Black scored five of the ensuing nine points to capture the frame.

The Aztecs were stymied in their efforts to close out the match, as LSU maintained a slim 15-14 advantage at the midway point of the fourth set. The Tigers increased their lead to 21-17 shortly thereafter, which prompted an SDSU timeout.

The Scarlet and Black regrouped at this juncture, trimming the deficit to 23-22, but LSU tallied the two of the next three points, thanks to kills by Robinson and Washington, to send the match to a fifth and deciding set.

The two sides combined for four ties early in the fifth frame until the Tigers took the lead for good with three straight points to break a 7-7 deadlock. LSU put itself in the driver’s seat at 13-9 before the Aztecs threw in one last scare with a 3-1 spurt, which narrowed the gap to 14-12. However, the Tigers dashed SDSU’s comeback hopes with the clinching point moments later.

San Diego State will look to salvage the final match of its weekend excursion to the Flo Hyman Classic when it battles Omaha on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. CT/11 a.m. PT. The Mavericks (2-2) were swept by Houston on Friday night.