Aztecs Set for Road Swing at Utah State, Boise State

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State volleyball team looks to get back in the win-column this week when it faces Utah State and Boise State in pair of Mountain West road matches. 

> The Aztecs will square off against the first-place Aggies on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT, before battling the Broncos on Saturday, Oct. 25 at noon MT/11 a.m. PT.
> Along with live stats, both matches will air live on the Mountain West Network with links available on GoAztecs.com. Fans can also catch the live action on their smartphones or TVs by downloading the MW app.
> SDSU will renew acquaintances with the same two teams next week when USU and Boise State invade Peterson Gym on Oct. 30 and Nov. 1, respectively.

SERIES RECORD VS. UTAH STATE
> Despite losing seven straight to the Aggies, the Aztecs still lead the all-time series 18-14, including a 12-4 mark in San Diego and a 6-10 record in road/neutral encounters.
> SDSU dropped a four-set decision in its last visit to Logan, Utah, on Nov. 16, 2024, falling by scores of 19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 19-25.
> The Aztecs owned the statistical advantage in team blocks (14.0 to 9.0), but it wasn’t enough, as USU held the upper hand in kills (57-47), service aces (6-5) and digs (48-36). Additionally, the Aggies out-hit SDSU .289 to .182 to help key their victory.
> Among returners, Talea Mitchell and Natalie Hughes launched seven kills apiece, with the latter supplying five block assists, while Sarena Gonzalez dished out 18 assists.

SERIES RECORD VS. BOISE STATE
> The Broncos hold a slim 13-12 edge in the all-time series since the two programs first met in 2005. 
> After winning a neutral-site match at the 2005 Red Raider Roundup in Lubbock, Texas, the Aztecs are 6-5 vs. Boise State in San Diego and 5-8 at Bronco Gym.
> The two teams squared off just once last season, with the Scarlet and Black dropping a tough five-set decision in Boise on Oct. 24, 2024 (24-26, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 15-17). The Aztecs were unable to build on a 12-9 lead in the fifth set, as the Broncos closed with an 8-3 rush to escape with the victory.
> Despite maintaining the statistical advantage in kills (69-62) and digs (96-84), SDSU was plagued by 13 service aces, while the Broncos owned a sizable edge in team blocks (17.0 to 9.0) to help spark their win.
>  Among returners, Taylor Underwood blasted 18 kills for the Aztecs, while Gianna Bender (20 digs) and Natalie Hughes (4 block assists) contributed defensively.

SDSU IN MW RANKINGS
> As of Oct. 22, opposite hitter Taylor Underwood occupies the second spot in the Mountain West with 3.68 kills per set, while libero Zara Stewart is slotted fourth in the league with 3.79 digs per set. Middle blocker Amber Keen also finds herself among the conference leaders this week, ranking seventh with a .337 hitting percentage.
> 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 seventh.
> Stewart collected a career-high 26 digs vs. New Mexico on Oct. 9, which represents the second-highest total in the conference during a four-set match so far this year and is tied for third overall.
> Mairs served up five aces against LSU at the Flo Hyman Classic on Sept. 5, which is tied for the fourth-best figure in the MW thus far.
> Campbell Hague and Ella Schabort recorded four aces apiece vs. Omaha at the same tournament the following day, which tied for the ninth-highest figure in the conference. Schabort later duplicated the feat at home against New Mexico.
> Underwood’s equaled her season best with 22 kills at UNLV on Oct. 18, which is tied for the eighth-best total in the league and is tied for the second-highest in a four-set match.
> In a five-set triumph at San José State on Sept. 25, Keen and Natalie Hughes collected nine blocks apiece, which is tied for the 13th-highest figure in the conference. Keen also contributed nine blocks vs. New Mexico, including a pair of solo efforts. 
> Entering the week, San Diego State is slotted second in the Mountain West with a .174 opponent hitting percentage in conference play and also occupies the second spot in that statistic for all matches (.185).
> In addition, the Aztecs rank fifth in the conference in service aces (1.49/set) while occupying the seventh position in both kills (12.41/set) and blocks (2.21/set).
> Elsewhere, SDSU eighth in both assists (11.38/set) and digs (13.71/set). 
> The Aztecs’ 14 service aces against Omaha  is tied for the top team performance in the conference so far this season.
>  In addition, SDSU’s 14 aces equaled 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 eighth-best clip in the MW thus far. 
> SDSU's 50 kills at Nevada on Oct. 4 is tied for the fifth-highest total in the three-set match in the conference.

MATCH CONNECTIONS
>  San Diego State opposite hitter Natalie Hughes and Utah State libero Sadie Warren squared off in a non-conference high school tournament in Texas in 2022. During Hughes' senior season, McKinney North High recorded a two-set triumph over Wylie High, featuring Warren, who was a sophomore on that squad. Hughes finished with nine kills and three blocks, according to MaxPreps, while Warren contributed four digs and a pair of aces.
> Aztec sophomore Talea Mitchell and Aggie junior Olivia Tukuafu played against each other as prep players in Arizona. During the 2021 campaign, Mitchell's Millenium High team (Goodyear) logged a 2-1 triumph over Tukuafu's Mountain View squad (Mesa) in a non-conference tournament. Tukuafu was entering her junior year, while Mitchell was beginning her sophomore campaign. According to MaxPreps, Mitchell racked up four kills and two digs in the win.
> SDSU freshman Kendall Mairs and Boise State freshman Sydney Dreves also faced one another as high schools seniors in the state of Washington. Mairs' Camas High team posted a 3-2 road victory over Dreves' Columbia River High squad in a non-conference match on Sept. 23, 2024.
> Utah State freshman Hailey Spencer and Boise State senior Kailyn Jager both prepped at San Diego County high schools. Spencer was a four-year varsity letterwinner at Del Norte High, while Jager, a transfer from UC Riverside, graduated from La Costa Canyon High before spending two seasons in the junior college level at MiraCosta College and San Diego Mesa College, respectively.

ODDS AND ENDS
> The Aztecs have held 18 of 19 opponents under a .300 hitting percentage this year. SDSU allowed its first adversary to hit over .300 when UNLV posted a .314 efficiency on Oct. 18. 
> The Aztecs are 8-3 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 6-0 this season when out-blocking the opposition and 9-2 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 7-4 in matches following a victory in 2025 and 4-3 in contests following a loss.
> Senior opposite hitter Taylor Underwood tied her season best with 22 kills at UNLV on Oct. 22, extending her streak of double-digit kills to 15 straight matches. The Norco, California, native also ranks fourth on the squad with 37 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 17 of 19 matches this year, including a career-high 26 scoops vs. New Mexico on Oct. 9. She also led all players with 22 digs against Grand Canyon on Oct. 16.
> Amber Keen has recorded at least one block in 16 of 19 matches this season. The Reno, Nevada, native tied her collegiate best with nine blocks vs. New Mexico, including two solo stops, after logging a career-high nine block assists at San José State on Sept. 27.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
> Riding a nine-match winning streak, Utah State (11-7, 8-0 MW) is the hottest team in the Mountain West, taking over sole possession of first place in the conference standings after posting a three-set sweep of Fresno State at home on Oct. 16 (25-18, 25-12, 25-13), followed by a four-set triumph at Boise State two days later (25-13, 25-20, 18-25, 25-9). With their results, the Aggies move to 4-3 in home matches and 7-4 in road/neutral contests. Utah State and San Diego State have faced one common opponent during their respective non-conference schedules, as both schools dropped a five-set decision to the University of San Diego. Entering the week, sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe leads the Mountain West with 10.82 assists per set, which ranks eighth nationally as of Oct. 22, while senior Tierney Barlow tops the conference with a .401 hitting percentage, which is good for 33rd in the country. On the attack, sophomore Mara Štiglic (3.55/set) and fellow classmate Loryn Helegsen (3.19/set) are slotted fourth and 10th in the conference in kills, respectively, followed closely by Andrea Simovski (2.94 kills/set), another sophomore who ranks third on the squad. In addition, Simovski ranks second in the MW in service aces (0.359/set), just ahead of junior Kendel Thompson (.0358/set), who is also slotted ninth in the league with 3.36 digs per set. At the net, Barlow leads USU with 51 blocks (0.76/set), followed by redshirt freshman Lauren Larkin's 47 rejections (0.98/set). Collectively, the Aggies lead the Mountain West in hitting percentage (.253), kills (13.70/set) and assists (12.72/set) while occupying the third spot in service aces (1.52/set). At the national level, the Aggies are slotted 30th in both assists and kills and 50th in hitting percentage. Conversely, USU ranks 11th in the conference in digs (12.52/set) and 12th in blocks (1.90/set). The Aggies are under the direction of sixth-year head coach Rob Neilson, who arrived on the Logan campus after serving as the lead assistant coach for the U.S. men’s national team from 2017-19. Prior to his stint with Team USA, Neilson spent 10 years on the Brigham Young men’s volleyball coaching staff, including the final two as the program’s associate head coach in 2014-15. He played collegiately at BYU from 2003-06, starting at setter during the 2005 and 2006 campaigns.

> Boise State (13-6, 5-3 MW) sits in a tie for fourth place in the Mountain West standings after splitting a pair of home matches last week, outlasting San José State in five sets (25-16, 25-21, 23-25, 19-25, 15-9) before dropping a 3-1 decision to conference leader Utah State two days later (13-25, 20-25, 25-18, 9-25). With the results, the Broncos move to 6-3 at home this season while maintaining a 7-3 ledger in road/neutral contests. Prior to Saturday's skirmish with SDSU, Boise State will play host to UNLV on Thursday evening. The Broncos and Aztecs played two common opponents during their respective non-conference schedules, as both teams defeated UC San Diego and San Francisco. Entering the week, Boise State leads the Mountain West in digs (15.28/set) and occupies the second spot in blocks (2.84/set), the latter of which ranks 11th in the country as of Oct. 22. Individually, senior Bre Mitchell is slotted second in the conference in digs (3.92/set), while redshirt freshman Eliza Sharp (1.35/set) and junior Layla Smith (1.33/set) rank fifth and sixth, respectively. In addition, Sharp is slotted ninth in the league with a .317 hitting percentage, while sophomore Lilli Etter occupies the ninth position as well in assists (5.99/set), sharing the setting chores with senior Elle Cotton (5.08/set). Offensively, the Broncos feature a balanced attack with five players averaging over two kills per set, including sixth-year competitor Arianna Bilby (2.64), Sharp (2.23), freshman Sydney Dreves (2.21/set), senior Kailyn Jager (2.15) and Smith (2.04). As a team, Boise State is slotted second in the MW in assists (12.53/set) while ranking third in kills (13.26/set) and eighth in hitting percentage (.202). Head coach Shawn Garus is in his 17th season in charge of the Bronco program, sporting a 406-324 career record and a 291-204 mark at the school. Garus captured back-to-back Mountain West Coach of the Year honors (2015-16) to go with 2016 AVCA Region Coach of the Year accolades.

ON THE HORIZON
> Following this weekend's road trip, San Diego State will face the same two teams at home next week when Utah State (Oct. 30) and Boise State (Nov. 1) invade Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.