Arizona Comeback Stuns Aztecs in Home Opener

SAN DIEGO – Despite four players with double-digit kills, the San Diego State volleyball team fell victim to a furious rally on Friday, dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Arizona (25-16, 25-19, 18-25, 19-25, 8-15) in its 2026 home opener at Peterson Gym.

After posting a combined .384 hitting percentage over the first two sets, the Aztec offense slipped into a funk, mustering a minus-.038 clip over the final three frames, which allowed the Wildcats to climb back into contention and escape with the win.

With the loss, SDSU slips to 5-4 on the year, while Arizona moves to 4-6 overall, extending its winning streak to six straight vs. the Scarlet and Black.

The Aztecs maintained a 63-48 advantage in kills but committed 21 more attack errors (39-18) on the night, leading to the narrow defeat.

On the flip side, the Wildcats owned the edge in team blocks (13.0 to 9.0), recording seven rejections alone in the third set to seize the momentum.

Individually, the Aztecs were paced by Ella Schabort, who blasted a match-high 19 kills to tie her collegiate best, while Annabelle De Jager set a career best as well with 13 put-aways of her own.

In addition, SDSU received 11 kills from Laylan Austin, who logged her third double-double of the year after recording 14 digs, while Taelyn Bentley hit .421, launching 10 non-returnables on 19 attempts with just two errors to go with six block assists, which tied her season best.

Not to be outdone, Kendall Mairs notched her sixth double-double after leading all players with 39 assists and 20 digs, the latter of which marked a career high.

Elsewhere, Zara Stewart surpassed the double-digit dig plateau for the seventh time in nine starts this year after collecting 17 scoops, while Austin served up a team-high three aces.

The Aztecs seemed poised to complete their fourth sweep of the season after blasting 19 kills in each of the first two sets. Schabort floored eight shots alone in the second stanza alone, while De Jager (.750) finished with six kills in eight attempts without an error.

With the score knotted at 11-11, SDSU crafted a 9-3 run to vault in front for good. Schabort blasted three kills in that stretch, including one to give the Scarlet and Black a 20-14 advantage.

The Wildcats managed to trim the deficit to three on two occasions, including a 22-19 spread after an Aztec service error. However, SDSU scored the final three points to secure the set, capped by a Schabort kill after the senior outside hitter joined forces with Bentley on a block.

In the third frame, the Aztecs maintained a 14-9 edge in kills but were undone by 12 attack errors, as Arizona posted seven team blocks, compared to SDSU’s one.

Still, the Aztecs nursed an early 9-7 lead after a Mila Gehlen kill. However, Arizona responded with a decisive 9-2 blitz to take command. Marina Vosloo sparked the run with consecutive service aces, while Renee Jones knocked down a pair of kills, followed by Journey Tucker, who came up with a solo block and combined effort with Hayden Reeder.

SDSU never drew closer than five points the rest of the way, as Reeder contributed two late kills, including the clincher to keep the visitors’ comeback hopes alive.

Stung, the Aztecs rolled to a 4-1 lead in the fourth stanza, punctuated by a De Jager kill and an Austin ace. However, the Wildcats methodically turned the tables, employing a timely 12-3 run to vault in front for good. SDSU shot itself in the proverbial foot during that stretch, committing six unforced attack errors, while Vosloo and Reeder teamed up on a block.

Trailing 16-11, the Aztecs narrowed the gap to two points on three occasions, including an 18-16 spread after Austin blasted a kill. However, Arizona quickly regained a five-point cushion, as Carlie Cisneros floored a shot after joining forces with Tucker on a block, while Brenna Ginder followed with a service ace, and the Scarlet and Black never threatened again.

Shortly thereafter, the Wildcats benefited from two errant SDSU attacks, while Reeder secured the set with a kill, sending the match to a fifth and deciding frame.

The Aztecs’ hitting woes continued in the final set, where the host school managed just four kills against six errors in 22 attempts. Clinging to a slim 5-4 advantage following a Gehlen kill, SDSU was undone by the exploits of Jones, who teamed with Voshoo on a pair of blocks and combined with Tucker on another stuff to highlight a decisive 7-1 run that put Arizona in the proverbial driver’s seat.

Reeder and Jones followed with back-to-back kills, giving the Wildcats a formidable 11-6 advantage. Two late attack errors effectively sealed the Aztecs’ fate, while Kennedy Osunsanmi’s kill completed the visitors’ stunning rally.

Jones (.375) led Arizona with 11 kills and contributed five block assists, while setter Maria Olga Siapani logged a double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs. Additionally, the Wildcats received eight kills and a match-high eight blocks from Tucker (.571), who came up with two solo stops, while Cisneros and Gigi Whann finished with 16 digs apiece.

San Diego State will have little time to dwell on its defeat, as it wraps up its non-conference schedule with a crosstown battle against San Diego at Jenny Craig Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 19, starting at 7 p.m. PT.