Balanced Attack Lifts Aztecs to Key Road Win at Boise State

 

BOISE, Idaho – The San Diego State volleyball team snapped its three-match losing streak on Saturday with a four-set triumph over Boise State (25-14, 25-20, 20-25, 25-20) in a Mountain West clash at Bronco Gym.

The Aztecs received double-digit kills from four players and posted their second-highest hitting percentage of the year with a .322 pace to help raise their record to 12-9 overall and maintain their third-place standing in the MW race with a 7-3 mark in conference play.

Conversely, the Broncos drop to 14-7 on the season and 6-4 in Mountain West competition.

Despite trailing in team blocks (10.0 to 9.0), SDSU owned the statistical advantage in most other categories, including kills (66-45), digs (64-49) and aces (5-3) to help key its victory.

For the 15th time this year, Taylor Underwood led the Aztec attack, blasting a match-high 18 kills while tying her season best with four block assists. In addition, the Scarlet and Black received a career performance from Annelise Rising, who launched 16 put-aways off the bench and recorded a scintillating .682 efficiency after committing just one error in 22 attempts.

The SDSU charge was also advanced by Ella Schabort, who notched a season-high 14 kills and hit .462, committing just two miscues in 26 swings, while Talea Mitchell got into the act with 10 terminations and four block assists.

Not to be outdone, Kendall Mairs recorded her eighth double-double of the year with 26 assists and a career-best 19 digs, both of which led all players, sharing the setting chores with Sarena Gonzalez, who dished out 24 helpers of her own.

Elsewhere, Campbell Hague came through with a match-high five blocks, including a solo stop, while Zara Stewart collected 14 digs, marking the 19th time in 21 matches that she has reached double figures in that statistic.

The Aztecs came out firing on all cylinders, posting a .500 hitting percentage in the opening set after launching 17 kills against four errors in 26 attempts. On the flip side, Boise State mustered just three put-aways against three miscues on 19 swings in the frame. SDSU spread the wealth in the set, led by Rising, who floored all five of her shots, followed by Mitchell (4), Schabort (3) and Natalie Hughes (3).

The teams combined for 12 ties and four lead changes thanks in part to six Aztec service errors. However, SDSU took charge with an emphatic 13-2 closing run, which broke a 12-12 deadlock. Schabort sparked the outburst with two aces and a kill, while Rising followed with three late kills before Hughes and Hague joined forces on a block to supply the clinching point.

The Aztecs kept the proverbial pedal to the metal in the second frame, surging to a pair of nine-point leads, including an 18-9 advantage on the heels of a Mitchell kill. The Broncos were unable to draw closer than four points for the remainder of the set, as Underwood smashed consecutive put-aways down the stretch to keep the host school at bay.

SDSU maintained its hot hitting with another .500 clip, knocking down 20 kills on 36 attempts with just two errors in the frame. Underwood hit .583 for the set, flooring seven of 12 shots without an error, while Rising added five more terminations.

The Aztecs were stymied in their efforts to complete the sweep, as Boise State captured the third frame to extend the match. Both sides collected 16 kills in the frame, but the Broncos posted three team blocks and benefited from a trio of SDSU attack errors to maintain the upper hand on the scoreboard.

The teams combined for seven ties and three lead changes before Boise State took the lead for good at 19-17 after consecutive kills by Kendall Hastings. The Broncos also received two put-aways by Arianna Bilby down the stretch, while Eliza Sharp and Sydney Dreves teamed up on a block for the clinching point.

However, the Aztecs dashed any Boise State comeback hopes after logging 13 kills, five team blocks and two aces in the fourth set to close out the match. Schabort took center stage with five kills in the frame, while Underwood floored four shots of her own.

With the score knotted at 9-9, SDSU seized control with a 12-5 spurt to build a 20-14 lead it would not relinquish. Schabort sparked the run with three kills while combining on a block with Hague, who later teamed with Hughes on another rejection.

The Broncos threw in one last scare, narrowing the gap to 22-20 on a Bilby service ace. However, the Aztecs met the challenge with three straight points. Underwood launched a kill and joined forces with Mitchell on a block, while Hague iced the victory with an ace off the top of the net, as the SDSU bench erupted in jubilation.

Boise State was led by Dreves’ 12 kills, while Sharp finished with nine put-aways in the loss.

San Diego State will play six of its final eight regular-season matches at home, starting Thursday, Oct. 30, when Utah State invades Peterson Gym at 6 p.m. PT. The Aztecs will renew acquaintances with Boise State on Saturday, Nov. 1, starting at noon PT.