Stirring Comeback Propels Aztecs to Reverse Sweep of Utah State

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team fashioned a comeback for the ages on Thursday with a dramatic five-set victory over Utah State (24-26, 25-27, 26-24, 25-20, 15-13) in a Pac-12 match inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

The Aztecs (11-6, 6-1 Pac-12) rallied from a 0-2 deficit in sets to complete the reverse sweep and extend their winning streak to six straight matches. In addition, SDSU put the brakes a nine-match losing skid to the Aggies (3-13, 2-4 Pac-12) in the all-time series.

The Aztecs racked up a season-high 69 kills and 19.0 team blocks to help fuel their victories in the defensive struggle, where the teams combined for 32 unforced attack errors, including 21 by SDSU. Conversely, USU finished with 59 put-aways and 17.0 team blocks, but it wasn’t enough.

The Aztecs’ block number matched their highest total since posting 19 rejections against New Mexico on Oct. 11, 2018, after the Scarlet and Black came up 20 stops earlier that same season vs. UTEP (Sept.15, 2018) and Seattle (Aug. 25, 2018).

Individually, SDSU was paced by Ella Schabort, who tied her career best with a match-high 19 kills, while Taelyn Bentley (.417) and Layla Austin finished with 13 terminations apiece.

Bentley (13 kills, 11 blocks), Austin (13 kills, 10 digs) and Kendall Mairs (53 assists, 19 digs) each recorded a double-double on Thursday. Bentley set career highs in her two statistical categories, while Mairs’ 53 helpers also marked a collegiate best, along with her six blocks on the night.

In addition, the Aztec cause was advanced by Tessa Schouten (.375), who launched nine kills and collected a season-high seven block assists, while Haylee Brown came off the bench with seven put-aways and a career-best five block assists.

Not to be outdone, Zara Stewart offered back-row support with 18 digs, while Schabort fell just shy of a double-double with nine scoops of her own.

The teams combined for 27 ties and 11 lead changes in the see-saw affair that took nearly three hours to complete.

Trailing 0-2 in sets, SDSU found itself in mortal danger after the Aggies grabbed a 22-18 lead in the third stanza after a combined block by Olivia Ruy and Solia Angilau. However, the Aztecs caught proverbial lightning in a bottle with a 6-1 blitz to inch in front by a 24-23 court. Bentley sparked the run with three consecutive kills and later served up an ace, sandwiched between a pair of Schabort put-aways.

Moments later, Ruy floored a shot to briefly tie the score at 24-24, but Brown and Schouten would not be denied on their next two swings, as each registered a kill to extend the match.

Buoyed by its good fortune, SDSU raced to a 10-4 lead in the fourth set, as Brown knocked down a pair of early kills and joined forces with Schouten on consecutive blocks. However, the Aggies remained within striking distance, knotting the score on five occasions, including a 14-14 deadlock following a kill by Sami Blackett.

Undaunted, the Aztecs flashed their mettle with a timely 8-3 run to take command. Austin blasted three kills during the run, while Schouten put-away two shots, along with a Mairs service ace.

USU narrowed the gap with three straight points on an Ava Nakai kill and consecutive joint blocks by Angilau and Ruy, which prompted an SDSU timeout. The Aggies were unable to draw closer, though, as Bentley followed with back-to-back put-aways, while Schabort launched a non-returnable of her own for the clinching point.

The stage was then set for a fifth and deciding frame, which witnessed four ties and a pair of lead changes. The Aztecs benefited from a Utah State service error and a misguided attack to vault in front for good at 9-7. Shortly thereafter, Schouten and Austin each knocked down a kill, while Bentley and Mairs soon teamed up on a block to give the hosts a 13-10 advantage.

The Aggies twice cut the margin to one, including a 14-13 spread following a successful challenge of a touched ball. However, Bentley quickly ended the suspense with a thunderous kill, as the SDSU bench erupted in jubilation.

Utah State had three players finish with double-digit kills, including Ruy (17), Blackett (15) and Nakai (12), while Angilau (7 kills) collected 10 blocks. In addition,  Silina Damuni completed a double-double with 43 assists and 18 digs in the loss.

San Diego State returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 17, when it battles Texas State at noon PT.