Late Surge Propels Aztecs Past Grand Canyon in Five-Set Thriller

PHOENIX – The San Diego State volleyball team completed a stirring comeback on Thursday with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Grand Canyon (14-25, 25-20, 10-25, 25-16, 17-15) in a key Mountain West match at Global Credit Union Arena.

After hitting just .051 over the first three sets, the Aztecs posted a .345 clip over the final two frames, committing just four attack errors in that stretch to put the brakes on a modest two-match slide and avenge an earlier defeat to the Lopes by the identical score on Oct. 16 in San Diego.

With the decision, SDSU (13-11, 8-5 MW) takes over sole possession of fourth place in the Mountain West standings, while Grand Canyon (15-9, 7-6 MW) slips into a tie for the fifth position with Boise State (15-9, 7-6 MW), which was swept at home by third-place Wyoming (13-11, 9-4 MW). In addition, conference leader Utah State (16-7, 13-0 MW) edged second-place Colorado State (16-7, 10-3 MW) at home, as the top six teams in the league qualify for the MW Championship later this month in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Taylor Underwood led the Aztecs with 13 kills against GCU, giving her 1,012 put-aways in a Scarlet and Black uniform after spending her freshman campaign at DePaul in 2022. The SDSU opposite hitter has amassed 1,276 kills in her collegiate career thus far.

In addition, the Aztecs received double-doubles from Ella Schabort and Kendall Mairs to help key their win. Schabort recorded 11 kills and 10 digs, while Mairs dished out 18 assists and totaled 12 scoops of her own, sharing the setting chores with Bella Jones, who dished out a team-high 22 helpers on the night.

The SDSU cause was also advanced by Natalie Hughes, who finished with nine kills and two block assists, while Talea Mitchell displayed her versatility with six kills and a team-high five blocks, including a solo rejection.

The Aztecs were also buoyed by the defensive efforts of Madison Corf, who registered a team-high 14 digs, while Zara Stewart finished with 10 in that category, surpassing double-digits for the 22nd time in 24 starts this season.

Not to be outdone, Campbell Hague added five kills and four block assists, while Annelise Rising contributed four important kills, including three in the pivotal fifth set.

Collectively, San Diego State trailed in many statistical categories, including kills (54-52), hitting percentage (.223 to .156) and team blocks (14.0 to 9.0). Additionally, the Aztecs overcame 11 service errors with the help of seven aces while maintaining the edge in digs (62-58) to help pull out the victory and win for just the second time in nine outings this year after trailing 2-1 on the set scoreboard.

Coming off a lackluster third set when it posted just seven kills against 10 errors in 31 attempts for a minus-.097 efficiency, SDSU completely flipped the script in the fourth frame, launching 12 kills against two miscues in 25 swings for a match-best .400 hitting percentage.

Five different Aztecs floored at least two shots in the frame, including three by Mitchell, who also cranked it up at the net with four blocks, including a solo stuff.  Collectively, SDSU posted more team blocks (6.0 to 1.0) in that span, helping to limit the Lopes to their lowest efficiency of the night with a .040 clip after they totaled just eight kills in 25 attempts with seven errors.

Still, the Aztecs found themselves clinging to a one-point lead after a kill by Aubrey Bellus narrowed the gap to 11-10. Undaunted, the Scarlet and Black caught fire with perhaps a season-defining 14-6 run to close out the set and extend the match. SDSU’s blitz was fueled by four blocks, including two combined efforts on consecutive points by Schabort and Mitchell, with the latter joining forces with Hughes on another stop. In addition, the Aztecs received aces by Rising, Hague and Stewart, the third of whom provided the clinching point.

The stage was then set for the decisive fifth frame where the teams witnessed 10 ties and five lead changes. Rising and Underwood blasted three kills apiece in the set, while Hughes and Schabort contributed two each.

SDSU fashioned a series of two-point leads, including a 13-11 spread following a GCU service error. The Lopes answered with kills by Bella Nunez and Aubrey Goodere to tie the score at 13-13 but were unable to gain the upper hand. The teams traded kills on the next four serves, with Underwood and Schabort alternating put-aways for the Aztecs between two terminations by GCU’s Sophia Parlanti.

With the score knotted at 15-15 moments later, Hughes blasted a kill to put the visitors in front for good, while the Aztec bench erupted in jubilation after a subsequent Lopes attack error was confirmed following a last-ditch coach’s challenge.

Parlanti led all players with 14 kills, while Nunez and Analena Ramirez finished with 12 non-returnables in the loss. GCU also received a match-high eight blocks from Bellus, while Bella Anderson scooped up 19 digs to pace all competitors.

The Aztecs stumbled out the gates in the opening set, hitting just .030 on nine kills in 30 attempts with eight errors. The Lopes employed a 14-3 surge to break an early 3-3 deadlock and seize control. With the outcome of the frame no longer in doubt, GCU received a service ace from Taylor Kubacak and a Ramirez kill for the clinching points.

SDSU battled back in the second stanza, led by Underwood’s five kills, while Schabort and Hughes floored two shots apiece. The two sides combined for eight ties before the Scarlet and Black crept into the lead at 15-14 following a joint block by Corf and Mitchell.

Clinging to a precarious 20-18 advantage shortly thereafter, the Aztecs crafted a 5-2 closing run to keep the hosts at bay, with Schabort, Hughes and Mitchell each providing a late kill.

San Diego State plays its final road match of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 8, when it faces New Mexico at noon MT/11 a.m. PT.  The Lobos (10-14, 2-11 MW) fell to UNLV in straight sets on Thursday night.