Valiant Comeback Effort Falls Short for Aztecs in Five-Set Loss to Cal

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Despite double-digit kills from four players, the San Diego State volleyball team was unable to complete a spirited comeback on Saturday, dropping a five-set nail-biter to California (21-25, 20-25, 26-24, 13-15) in its second match of the Santa Clara Mission Classic at Leavey Center.

After capturing the third and fourth sets to tie the match, the Aztecs (4-3) nearly overcame a 10-3 deficit in the fifth frame before falling just short.

Individually, Ella Schabort maintained her hot-hitting, blasting a team-high 15 kills in 30 attempts for a .400 efficiency and collected 12 digs to complete her second double-double of the year, while Layla Austin accomplished the feat for the second time this season as well after compiling 11 put-aways and a career-high 20 digs.

The SDSU attack also featured a season-best 11 kills by Taelyn Bentley, while Haylee Brown also launched a season-high 10 non-returnables in her first extended action of the year. Bentley also found success at the net, tying Tessa Schouten for team-high honors with three block assists apiece.

Not to be outdone, setter Kendall Mairs recorded the Aztecs’ third double-double of the day and her fifth of the season after finishing with 42 assists and 15 digs, while Zara Stewart eclipsed the double-digit dig barrier for the sixth time in seven starts after totaling 18 scoops on Saturday.

As a team, the Aztecs owned the statistical advantage in several categories, including kills (64-55), hitting percentage (.220 to .198) and digs (78-64). However, the Golden Bears (6-1) maintained the edge in team blocks (10.0 to 6.0) and aces (9-6), while SDSU committed six more service errors (17-11) in the loss.

SDSU dropped the first two sets after hitting a combined .106 in that span but posted a .337 clip over the final three frames to nearly pull off a reverse sweep.

The Aztecs began their climb back into contention in that third set, as Bentley took center stage with five kills in five attempts without an error (1.000), while Brown enjoyed a spotless frame with five put-aways on seven swings for a .571 efficiency while assisting on a pair of blocks.

The teams battled through seven ties, including a 16-16 deadlock, before Brown provided some instant offense with four kills during a decisive 5-2 run, while Schabort floored a shot to put SDSU in front for good at 21-18.  Cal narrowed the gap to one on three occasions, including a 24-23 spread after a combined block by Cari Bohm and Anna Flores. However, Schouten followed with a quick kill to clinch the set and keep the Aztecs’ hopes alive.

With momentum on its side, SDSU improved its rhythm in the fourth stanza, launching 17 kills on 35 attempts with just five errors for a  .343 efficiency. The Aztecs featured a balanced attack in the set, as Austin and Schabort knocked down four kills apiece, while Bentley and Brown added three apiece.

SDSU seemingly gained control midway through the set, building a series of five-point leads, including a 17-12 spread following a Schabort kill. The Bears would not go quietly, crafting a 12-6 run to reach match point at 24-23 courtesy of a Bohm kill. However, the Aztecs flashed their mettle at this juncture, as Austin launched a non-returnable and quickly teamed with Schouten on a block to put the Scarlet and Black in front. Moments later, Mairs capitalized on a free ball and smashed a kill down the middle of the court, sending the match to a decisive fifth set.

In that fateful frame, SDSU maintained a 9-7 edge in kills and posted its best hitting percentage of the match with a .368 clip, committing just two errors in 19 attempts. Schabort blasted three put-aways in the set, while Bentley and Brown floored two shots apiece.

However, the Aztecs were victimized by five service aces, while Cal added a pair of blocks to escape with the victory.

Flores served up three aces during a 4-0 opening run for the Bears, while Abby Zimmerman later added two more to extend the Cal lead to 10-3.

SDSU quickly regrouped after a timeout when Mairs launched a kill and joined forces with Schouten on a block to ignite a 9-3 blitz. Brown added two put-aways during the run, while Schabort followed with back-to-back kills, narrowing the gap to 13-12. The teams exchanged service errors before Zimmerman’s final attack deflected off a pair of Aztec blockers for the Bears’ clinching point.

Zimmerman led all players with 17 kills and tied the Aztecs’ Austin for match-high honors with 20 digs, while Sawyer Thomsen (.385) finished with 12 put-aways of her own. In addition, Bohm (10 kills) paced all competitors with seven blocks, including a solo effort, while Flores dished out a match-best 44 assists in the victory.

The opening set witnessed a see-saw affair with eight ties and a pair of lead changes before the Bears vaulted in front to stay at 16-14, following a Zimmerman kill and a joint block by Bohm and Flores. SDSU was unable to draw closer than three points the rest of the way, as Zimmerman floored a shot to secure the frame for Cal.

The Aztecs received three kills apiece by Schabort and Annabelle De Jager in the set but were plagued by seven attack errors, finishing with its lowest efficiency of the day with a .083 clip.

SDSU found itself in pursuit mode for the entire second stanza, with Cal seizing control at 16-10 following a Bohm kill. The Aztecs were unable to trim the margin past four points down the stretch, as the Bears held on to claim the set thanks to a Flores put-away.

The Aztecs maintained a 12-9 advantage in kills during the second frame but were undone by seven service errors before rebounding in the third set.

San Diego State closes out the Santa Clara Mission Classic on Sunday, Sept. 13, when it faces CSU Bakersfield at 1 p.m. PT.