Aztecs Toppled in Four Sets at USD

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team dropped its second match in a row on Saturday, falling to the University of the San Diego in four sets (20-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-25) at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

With the loss, the Aztecs wrap up their non-conference schedule with a 5-5 ledger, while the Toreros raise their record to an identical mark after winning their second straight.

USD maintained the statistical advantage in most categories, including kills (50-40), hitting percentage (.280 to .075), team blocks (15.0 to 3.0) and digs (63-61) to help key its victory.

For just the second time this season, no SDSU player surpassed the 10-kill plateau, as Ella Schabort, Mila Gehlen and Layla Austin tied for team-high honors with eight put-aways apiece.

In addition, Kendall Mairs logged her seventh double-double of the year after finishing with 20 assists and 12 digs, splitting the setting chores with Logan Cary, who recorded season highs of 15 assists and seven digs of her own.

Elsewhere, Zara Stewart collected a team-high 16 digs, while Chelsea Cocks posted three block assists.

However, the Aztecs were unable to contain the Toreros’ three-pronged attack of Kierstyn (18), Emma Brewer (13) and Nemo Beach (10), who combined for 41 of the team’s 50 kills.

SDSU was also undone at the net, where Meghan Scholz led all players with nine blocks, including a solo stop, while Brewer and BayLea Sparks (3 solos) finished with five rejections apiece.

The teams combined for 26 service errors, including 15 for USD.

The Toreros led wire-to-wire in the opening set, maintaining a 15-9 edge in kills during that span. The Aztecs were paced by Austin’s four put-aways in the frame, while Schabort added two.

SDSU found itself in pursuit mode after USD forged an early 8-2 lead, capped by Scholz’s joint block with Kylie Munday. The Aztecs gradually chipped away at the deficit, pulling to within 20-18 on consecutive kills by Austin and Taelyn Bentley.

After a timeout, the Toreros regrouped with a put-away by Sparks, while Lauren Lynch followed with a service ace, and the Scarlet and Black never threatened again. USD benefited from an SDSU attack error down the stretch, while Brewer knocked down a pair of kills for the clinching points.

The Aztecs logged their best hitting percentage of the night in the second stanza, blasting 17 kills against six errors in 40 attempts for a .275 efficiency.

Still, SDSU found itself on the wrong side of a 19-15 score before unleashing a timely 10-3 blitz to close out the set. Gehlen was nearly a one-player wrecking crew during the run, notching six kills on six attempts, including the clincher.

However, the Aztecs were unable to sustain the momentum in the third frame, as USD owned a 12-6 advantage in kills during the set. SDSU stumbled out of the gates, falling behind 5-0 after a Barton service ace.

Cocks and Schabort teamed up on a pair of blocks to help the Aztecs trim the margin to 8-7, but the visitors were unable to seize the upper hand. Moments later, SDSU was plagued by a bad set, while Beach and Barton supplied a pair of kills, followed by a Munday service ace, which put the host school back in control at 12-7.

The Aztecs never drew closer than three points for the remainder of the set, as Barton launched four kills down stretch, while Scholz and Brewer combined on a block to help keep the Scarlet and Black at bay.

SDSU could not generate a consistent attack in the fourth stanza, as USD flexed its proverbial muscles with seven team blocks to stymie any comeback hopes for the visitors. Sparks came up with four rejections in the set, including three solo stops, while Scholz and Beach contributed two apiece.

San Diego State opens its first season of Pac-12 competition next week when it travels to Colorado State (Sept. 24) and Fresno State (Sept. 26).