Aztecs Extend Winning Streak to Five with 3-1 Victory over New Mexico

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team received double-digit kills from three players on Thursday to key its fifth consecutive victory in a 3-1 triumph over visiting New Mexico (25-10, 20-25, 25-22, 25-23) in a Mountain West match on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

With the decision, the Aztecs maintain the top perch in the league standings with Utah State at 5-0 in MW play, improving to 10-6 on the season, while the Lobos drop their sixth straight, falling to 8-8 overall and 0-5 in conference action.

In addition, SDSU’s 5-0 record in the MW marks its best start to a conference schedule since 1995, when the Scarlet and Black went 8-0 en route to winning the Western Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 13-1 ledger.

Once again, the Aztecs featured a balanced attack against the UNM, led by Taylor Underwood, who tied for match-high honors with 16 kills, while Madison Corf blasted 11 put-aways of her own, followed by Natalie Hughes’ 10 terminations. Additionally, Mila Gehlen and Ella Schabort came through in the clutch with five kills apiece off the bench.

Collectively, SDSU owned the statistical advantage in most categories, including kills (55-40), aces (8-6), digs (73-62) and team blocks (13.0 to 11.0).

The Aztecs’ 73 digs marked a season best, led by Zara Stewart, who collected a career-high 26 scoops, while Amber Keen displayed her prowess at the net with a match-high nine blocks to equal her collegiate best, highlighted by a pair of solo efforts.

Not to be outdone, Kendall Mairs led all players with 23 assists and tied for match-high honors with three service aces, splitting the setting chores with Bella Jones, who logged her fifth double-double of the year with 22 assists and 13 digs.

SDSU made quick work of the Lobos in the opening set, limiting the visitors to a minus-.188 hitting percentage on just five kills against 11 errors in 32 attempts for the frame. In addition, the Aztecs totaled six team blocks, with Keen assisting on five of those rejections, while Talea Mitchell recorded a solo stop.

Offensively, Hughes led the Scarlet and Black in that span with three kills, while Corf, Underwood and Campbell Hague floored two shots apiece. Additionally, Mairs and Stewart each served up a pair of aces.

The Aztecs never trailed in the set, building an insurmountable 16-7 advantage midway through the frame after a Hughes kill and three consecutive blocks. Keen joined forces with Hughes on two of those rejections after teaming with Underwood on another.

The Lobos tallied three straight points on kills by Lauren Payne and Reagan Miller, with the latter supplying a solo block to trim the margin to 16-10. However, SDSU kept New Mexico off the scoreboard the rest of the way with a strong 9-0 closing run capped by an Underwood termination.

The Lobos regrouped in the second stanza, benefiting from seven unforced attack errors by the Aztecs while committing just three miscues of their own. Underwood shouldered much of the offensive burden for the Scarlet and Black in that set, launching seven non-returnables, while Gehlen added three put-aways.

After six early ties and three lead changes, UNM vaulted in front for good at 12-9 following consecutive errant SDSU attacks, while Seenane Brewer served up an ace. The Lobos soon built a series of five-point advantages, including a 22-17 spread following a joint block by Zoe Leonard and Amanda Tremeroli.

 The Aztecs quickly narrowed the gap with three straight points on a pair of Gehlen kills sandwiched around a Keen solo block but could draw no closer. New Mexico answered with three consecutive tallies of their own to close out the frame and keep SDSU at bay. Tremeroli knocked down a kill and teamed with Leonard on a block for the clinching point after Brewer twirled another ace, tying the match at one set apiece.

SDSU, which hit .187 for the night, logged its best efficiency of the contest with a .244 clip in the third frame, blasting 15 kills in 41 attempts against five errors. The Aztecs’ trademark balance was on display in the set, as Corf, Hughes and Underwood launched four kills apiece.

With the score knotted at 14-14, SDSU reeled off five straight points, benefitting from back-to-back Lobo attack errors and an Underwood service ace to vault in front for good. UNM threw in one last scare, trimming the deficit to 23-22 on Payne’s service ace, which capped a 5-1 run. However, the visitors never seized the upper hand, as Corf followed with a kill, while an ensuing Lobo attack went awry, allowing the Scarlet and Black to breath a collective sigh of relief.

Looking to close out the match, the Aztecs received a huge boost from Schabort, who smashed all five of her kills in the fourth set, while Keen, Corf and Underwood contributed three apiece. Although UNM committed five fewer unforced attack errors in the frame, SDSU maintained the advantage in kills (17-13) and team blocks (3.0 to 1.0) to ultimately secure the victory.

The Aztecs were seemingly in control after Keen and Schabort combined on a block to give the hosts a 16-12 advantage. However, the Lobos twice fought back to tie the score, including a 19-19 deadlock following a Reagan Miller kill. Consecutive put-aways by Underwood and Schabort put the Scarlet and Black in front for good, with the former joining forces with Hague on a block moments later.

With a 22-19 lead in tow, SDSU received two late kills from Underwood and Keen but had to endure a series of hiccups down the stretch after witnessing two misguided attacks and a pair of errant serves, which allowed UNM to pull within 24-23. Following a timeout, Schabort quickly ended any remaining drama with a match-clinching kill, much to the delight of the Aztec faithful.

Payne led the Lobos with 16 kills to tie Underwood for match-high honors, while Addison France added 11 put-aways of her own. In addition, the Lobos received eight blocks from Reagan Miller, while Camila Canedo totaled 23 digs in the loss.

San Diego State will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 11, when it plays host to UNLV at noon PT. The Rebels (8-7, 2-3 MW) were defeated in four sets by Grand Canyon at home on Thursday.