Aztecs Set for MW Road Matches at Air Force, Nevada

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State continues its conference-opening road swing this week when it faces Air Force and Nevada in Mountain West action. 

> The Aztecs will face the Falcons at the Academy on Thursday, Oct. 2, starting at 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT, before engaging the Wolf Pack in Reno on Saturday, Oct. 4, beginning at noon  PT.
> Both matches will feature live stats, while Saturday’s clash at Nevada will air live on the Mountain West Network with a link available on GoAztecs.com. Fans can also catch the live action on their smartphones or TVs by downloading the MW app.
> This week’s encounters mark SDSU’s sole regular-season matches against Air Force and Nevada. The Aztecs will also face Colorado State and Wyoming on one occasion this year while battling the seven remaining conference members in home-and-away contests to complete their MW schedule.

QUICK HITS
> San Diego State commenced its Mountain West docket last week with a pair of victories at Fresno State and San José State, sweeping the Bulldogs (25-17, 25-21, 25-16) before outlasting the Spartans in a gritty five-set battle (25-23, 24-26, 25-17, 15-25, 15-10).
> With their success, the Aztecs won their first two conference openers for the first time since 2011.
> Senior opposite hitter Taylor Underwood led the Scarlet and Black with 34 kills (4.25/set) and hit .389 in the two matches to earn MW Offensive Player of the Week honors. 
> In addition, junior middle blocker Amber Keen totaled 13 blocks last week, highlighted by nine block assists at SJSU, while freshman libero Zara Stewart collected 30 digs (3.75/set).
> Entering the week, Underwood ranks second in the MW with 3.48 kills per set, while Keen is slotted fifth with a .341 hitting percentage and ninth with 1.00 blocks per set. In addition, Stewart occupies the sixth spot in digs.

SERIES RECORD VS. AIR FORCE
> After capturing both matches against the Falcons in 2024, the Aztecs hold a sizable 42-11 advantage in the all-time series dating back to 1996.
> SDSU emerged victorious at the Academy last season with a 3-1 decision (16-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-13) before recording a sweep at Peterson Gym in the season finale (25-19, 25-21, 25-22).
> In that first match, the Aztecs recorded 13.5 team blocks and limited Air Force to a .048 hitting percentage over the final three sets. Despite a 7-3 deficiency in service aces, SDSU maintained the statistical advantage in kills (49-41) and digs (49-44) to help key the victory.
> Among returners, Taylor Underwood launched 11 kills, while Natalie Hughes finished with six blocks to go with five put-aways of her own.

SERIES RECORD VS. NEVADA
> The Aztecs own a 17-8 advantage in the all-time series with the Wolf Pack dating back to 2011. SDSU sports a 12-2 record against Nevada in San Diego and a 5-6 ledger in Reno. 
> The Aztecs suffered a 3-1 upset loss to the Wolf Pack (19-25, 31-29, 19-25, 19-25) in the lone meeting between the two teams in 2024.
> SDSU was unable to generate a consistent attack in that contest, as Nevada out-hit the Scarlet and Black .285 to .192, while maintaining the upper hand in kills (65-44), digs (57-48) and service aces (8-5) to key its victory.
> Among returners, the Aztecs were paced by Campbell Hague, who blasted eight kills off the bench, while Talea Mitchell and Natalie Hughes collected six put-aways each.
> After withstanding five set points in a see-saw affair during the second stanza, SDSU ultimately gained the upper hand on a misguided Nevada serve and a kill by Hague. Moments later, a Wolf Pack attack went awry, allowing the Scarlet and Black to escape by a 31-29 count, which evened the match at one set apiece.
> Unfortunately, the Aztecs were unable to parlay that good fortune for the remainder of the match, combining for a .123 hitting percentage over the final two including a minus-.037 clip in the fourth frame, where the visitors mustered just five kills against six errors.

MATCH CONNECTIONS
> San Diego State middle blocker/outside hitter Talea Mitchell and Air Force libero Jordan Suan squared off on the Arizona prep scene in a preseason tournament match during the 2021 campaign. In Mitchell’s sophomore season, Millennium High registered a two-set sweep over Perry High (Gilbert), featuring Suan, who was a senior on that squad. Mitchell blasted one kill in that encounter, while Suan collected 18 digs, according to MaxPreps.
> Falcon junior opposite hitter Savanah Johnson is a graduate of Eastlake High in Chula Vista.
> Similarly, Mitchell and Nevada libero Kinsley Singleton squared off on the Arizona prep scene as well during the 2023 campaign. Mitchell’s Millennium High team recorded a two-set sweep over Singleton’s O’Connor High squad at the Millennium Rise ‘N Roar Classic. Mitchell finished with three kills, two aces and a block assist in that victory, while Singleton totaled one kill, four digs and eight aces, according to MaxPreps.
> Aztec setter Bella Jones and Wolf Pack defensive specialist Summer Suppik were prep teammates at Redondo Union High School. Jones was a junior on the Sea Hawks’ 2023 squad, while Suppik was a senior.
> SDSU middle blocker Amber Keen was a prep teammate of Wolf Pack libero Lara Pacheco at Reno High School, helping their squad capture the 2022 Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) Class 5A North Regional championship and a runner-up finish in the state tournament as a senior.
> Keen’s Reno High team was a conference rival of Bishop Manogue High School, which featured current Wolf Pack defensive specialist Masyn Navarro. In 2022, Reno High captured two of three matches against Bishop Manogue, including a 3-0 sweep in the regional championship. In that contest Keen posted a match-high 16 kills and hit .667, while Navarro finished with 14 digs, according to MaxPreps.

SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> As of Oct. 1, opposite hitter Taylor Underwood occupies the second spot in the Mountain West with 3.48 kills per set, while middle blocker Amber Keen ranks fourth with a .341 hitting percentage and ninth with 1.00 blocks per set. In addition, libero Zara Stewart is slotted sixth the league with 3.49 digs per set, while Kendall Mairs has climbed into the 10th position with 5.25 assists per set.
> Madison Corf’s career-high .750 hitting percentage (16-1-20) against UC San Diego on Sept. 18 marks the top efficiency in the league so far this season, while Keen’s collegiate-best .650 clip (14-1-20) vs. Oregon at the Long Beach State Tourney ranks fourth.
> Kendall Mairs served up five aces against LSU at the Flo Hyman Classic on Sept. 5, which is tied for the fourth-best total in the MW this season.
> Campbell Hague and Ella Schabort recorded four aces apiece vs. Omaha at the same tournament the following day, which tied for the seventh-highest figure in the conference.
> Natalie Hughes and Amber Keen collected nine blocks apiece at San José State on Sept. 27, which is tied for the eighth-best total in the league.
> Entering the week, San Diego State is slotted fifth in the Mountain West in service aces (1.45/set) and opponent hitting percentage (.185) while tying for sixth in blocks (2.02/set).
> The Aztecs’ 14 service aces against Omaha represents the top team performance in the conference so far this season.
> In addition, SDSU’s 14 aces matched its highest total since Nov. 23, 2001, in a three-set triumph over Denver at the Wildcat Classic in Tucson, Arizona.
> The Aztecs’ .369 team hitting percentage vs. UCSD marks the sixth-best clip in the MW thus far. In addition, SDSU dished out 55 assists in that contest, which is tied for the sixth-highest total in a four-set match among conference teams.

ODDS AND ENDS
> The Aztecs have held all 13 opponents under a .300 hitting percentage this year. SDSU is 5-2 thus far when limiting the opposition below a .200 efficiency. Last season, SDSU went 16-0 when holding opponents to a hitting percentage below .200. 
> SDSU is 4-0 this season when out-blocking the opposition and 6-1 when maintaining a greater hitting percentage. Last year the Aztecs went 16-5 when leading in blocks and 19-3 when out-hitting their opponents.
> SDSU is 4-2 in matches following a loss in 2025 and 3-3 in contests following a victory.
> Senior opposite hitter Taylor Underwood blasted a season-high 22 kills at San José State on Sept. 27, extending her streak of double-digit kills to nine straight matches. The Norco, California, native also ranks fourth on the squad with 26 blocks, highlighted by a career-best three solo rejections vs. LSU on Sept. 5.
> Freshman libero Zara Stewart has surpassed the double-digit barrier for digs in 12 of 13 matches this year, including a season-high 19 scoops at Houston on Sept. 4.
> Amber Keen has recorded at least one block in 11 straight matches and 12 of 13 contests this season. The Reno, Nevada, native posted a career-high nine block assists at San José State on Sept. 27.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Air Force (9-5, 1-1 MW) split its conference openers last weekend, sweeping Nevada at home (25-23, 25-20, 27-25) before suffering the opposite fate two days later at Wyoming (19-25, 19-25, 16-25). With their results, the Falcons move to 4-3 in home matches and 5-2 in road/neutral contests. Air Force’s nine victories this season are three times its total from the entire 2024 campaign when it posted a 3-26 mark. Entering the week, senior Ashley Bible ranks fourth in the Mountain West with 3.39 kills per set, while sophomore Alysa Walker occupies the  eighth position with 3.36 put-aways per frame. Setting the Falcons’ attack is sophomore Mia Lloyd, who leads the conference in assists (10.13/set) and ranks third in service aces (0.40/set), while sophomore Grace Fiaseu (.306) and senior Alex Hatchett (.305) are slotted ninth and 10th in hitting percentage. In addition, Fiaseu (49) and Hatchett (48) own the top two spots on the team in blocks, while senior Jordan Suan (3.55/set) ranks fifth in the conference in digs. Collectively, Air Force leads the Mountain West in kills (13.17/set) and occupies the second position in assists (12.21/set) and service aces (1.60/set) while ranking fifth in digs (14.19/set). The Falcons are also slotted sixth in the conference in hitting percentage (.213) and find themselves tied with SDSU for the sixth spot in blocks (2.02/set). Air Force is guided by second-year head coach Macey Donathon, who previously served as an assistant coach at Arkansas (2019-22), Arizona State (2017-18) and Liberty (2016). The former Macey Gardner played collegiately at Arizona State, where she finished as the program’s all-time leader with 1,882 kills, which ranks 18th in Pac-12 conference history.

> Nevada (4-8, 0-2 MW) was swept in its Mountain West openers, falling  at Air Force (23-25, 20-25, 25-27) and Colorado State (21-25, 21-25, 13-25). With those decisions, the Wolf Pack slip to 2-7 in road/neutral matches while maintaining a 2-1 record at home. Prior to Saturday’s clash with the Aztecs, Nevada will play host to UNLV on Thursday night. Offensively, the Wolf Pack are led by junior Haylee Brown, a transfer from George Washington who ranks ninth in the MW with 3.36 kills per set, while senior Nicanora Clarke (2.55), freshman Mckaley Herr (2.22) and redshirt freshman Jess Walkenhorst (2.12) are also averaging over two put-aways per frame. Despite missing three matches, senior Bella Snyder leads the conference with a .403 hitting percentage and ranks second on the team with 29.0 blocks, trailing Kamryn Tifft, who has 35.0 blocks  to her credit. Elsewhere, sophomore Kinley Singleton ranks seventh in the MW with 3.43 digs per set, while freshman Audrey Jensen occupies the eighth spot in the conference with an average of 6.29 assists per set and is tied for 10th in service aces (0.33/set). As a team, Nevada is slotted third in the MW in service aces (1.50/set), but finds itself near the bottom of the league in most other statistical categories, including blocks (10th, 1.88/set), digs (10th, 12.24), kills (12th, 11.55/set) and hitting percentage 12th, .164). Head coach Shannon Wycokoff-McNeal is in her second season at the helm of the Wolf Pack program after spending the previous 12 years on the staff at her alma mater Washington State, where she helped the Cougars secure eight consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. As a player at WSU, Wyckoff-McNeal became the first Cougar player to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career, while her 3.24 digs per set still ranks fifth on the school’s all-time charts.

ON THE HORIZON
> Following this weekend’s matches, San Diego State returns to the friendly confines of Peterson Gym for a three-match homestand, featuring New Mexico (Oct. 9), UNLV (Oct. 11) and Grand Canyon (Oct. 16).