Aztecs Unable to Quell Spartan Surge in Four-Set Home Loss

SAN DIEGO – With a spot in the conference tournament hanging in the balance, the San Diego State volleyball team dropped a four-set decision to San José State (25-21, 20-25, 24-26, 17-25) in a crucial Mountain West mach  inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

With the result, the Aztecs and Spartans are tied for sixth in the conference with identical 8-9 records in MW play and 13-15 marks overall. The top six teams qualify for the MW Championship, set for Nov. 26-29 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

San Diego State plays host to Fresno State in its regular-season finale on Saturday, Nov. 22, while San José State travels to UNLV.

Earlier in the evening, fourth-place Boise State (18-10, 10-7 MW) swept Nevada at home to clinch a spot in the conference tourney, while fifth-place Grand Canyon (17-11, 9-8 MW) locked up another berth despite falling at Colorado State, 3-1.

With a victory on Thursday, the Scarlet and Black had a chance to punch their own ticket to the MW Championship after Air Force was defeated at first-place Utah State but could not capitalize on the immediate opportunity.

Missing three starters, the scenario looked good for the short-handed Aztecs after capturing the opening set against the Spartans on Thursday. SDSU posted its highest efficiency of the night with a .344 clip in that span but hit just .094 over the final three frames, allowing the visitors to gradually seize control.

Despite maintaining the edge in team blocks (10.0 to 8.0), the Aztecs were out-hit for the match (.219 to .148) as SJSU totaled more kills (58-49) and digs (62-58) to help fuel its victory.

Individually, SDSU was paced by Madison Corf and Mila Gehlen, who blasted 12 kills apiece, while Ella Schabort and Talea Mitchell floored seven shots apiece.

Corf logged her third double-double of the year after collecting 13 digs, while Mitchell led all players with six blocks, including a solo effort.

Elsewhere, the Aztec cause was buoyed by Zara Stewart’s match-high 18 digs, while Sarena Gonzalez finished with 25 assists and eight digs, splitting the setting responsibilities with Bella Jones (14 assists, nine digs).

SDSU blasted 12 kills in 32 attempts with just one error during the first set, led by Gehlen’s four put-aways, while Mitchell totaled three terminations of her own. The Aztecs led by as many as six points, with Corf knocking down a kill to give the hosts a 16-9 advantage.

The Spartans narrowed the deficit to one on three occasions, including a 21-20 spread following a Lolo Fonua put-away. However, the Scarlet and Black met the challenge with a 4-1 closing run to keep SJSU at bay. The Spartans self-destructed with two attack errors sandwiched around a bad set, while Gehlen stepped and provided the clinching point with a kill.

After posting a .344 hitting percentage in the opening frame, the Aztecs stumbled in the second stanza, posting a .079 efficiency after committing 10 errors in 38 swings to offset 13 kills. Corf led the SDSU attack with five put-aways in the set, while Campbell Hague launched three non-returnables of her own.

The teams combined for seven ties and three lead changes before SJSU vaulted in front for good at 20-18 after consecutive kills by Morgan Graves and Fonua followed by a wayward Aztec attack. Corf answered with a put-away to trim the deficit but the Spartans closed with a 5-1 rush to even the match.

The two sides were plagued by inconsistency during a sluggish third set that witnessed eight ties and four lead changes. SDSU posted a .116 efficiency in that span, knocking down 13 kills against eight errors in 43 attempts, while San José State fared slightly worse with a .114 clip (14-9-44). Corf led the way for the Aztecs with four put-aways in the frame, while Schabort and Gehlen tallied three apiece.

SDSU found itself trailing 14-8 before crafting a timely 12-5 blitz to take a brief 20-19 lead.  The Aztecs posted three blocks in that span, including a solo stuff by Schabort, who also combined with Hague on a rejection before Mitchell and Corf teamed up on another stop to punctuate the run.

However, consecutive attack errors derailed SDSU’s momentum, while three Fonua kills offset a pair of put-aways by Corf and Schabort, allowing the visitors to reach set point at 24-22.

The Aztecs quickly fought themselves off the proverbial ropes after Schabort and Natalie Hughes launched consecutive non-returnables, which knotted the score at 24-24.

The stage was soon set for a pivotal juncture in the match after Morgan Castaneda’s kill put the Spartans up 25-24. Moments later, SDSU appeared to get the equalizer on the ensuing point when Naima Foster’s shot was off target. However, the Aztecs were called for a net violation on that attack thanks to a San José State coaches challenge. Instead of 25-25 deadlock, the reversal gave the Spartans a 26-24 triumph for the frame and a 2-1 edge on the set scoreboard.

Stung, SDSU hit just .063 in the fourth stanza, mustering 11 kills against errors in 36 attempts. The Aztecs found themselves on the wrong side of a 10-4 score following Fonua’s solo block.

The Scarlet and Black twice narrowed the gap to three, including a 15-12 spread after a Gehlen kill. However, consecutive put-aways by Randilyn Reeves and Castaneda ignited a 10-5 closing run to end the match. Fonua floored three shots down the stretch, while Buchanan added two late kills, including the clincher.

Fonua led all players with 24 kills and hit .400 for the match, while former Aztec Fatimah Hall contributed a double-double with 45 assists and 14 digs, tying Talita Goncalves for the team lead in the latter category.

San Diego State wraps up its regular-season slate on Saturday, Nov. 22, when it battles Fresno State at noon PT. Meanwhile, UNLV will host San José State an hour later at 1 p.m.

Prior to Saturday’s contest, the Aztecs will hold a special Senior Day ceremony, recognizing the accomplishments of Cara Braun, Madison Corf, Sarena Gonzalez, Keira Herron, Amber Keen and Taylor Underwood.