Aztecs Surge to 3-1 Victory at Gonzaga for Eighth Straight Win

SPOKANE, Wash. – The San Diego State volleyball team received double digit kills from three players on Saturday to key its 3-1 triumph over Gonzaga (25-16, 16-25, 25-15, 25-22) in a Pac-12 showdown at Charlotte Y. Martin Centre.

With the decision, the Aztecs (13-6, 8-1 Pac-12) extended their winning streak to eight straight matches and completed the season sweep of the Zags (7-14, 2-7 Pac-12) after posting a three-set sweep at Peterson Gym on Oct. 10. As a result, SDSU also maintains a tight grip on second place in the conference standings, trailing front-runner Colorado State (16-3, 9-0 Pac-12) by just one game.

In addition, the Aztecs’ current victory streak marks the program’s longest since the Scarlet and Black closed out the 2012 regular season with 12 consecutive wins.

On Saturday, SDSU was led by the trio of Ella Schabort (15), Layla Austin (14) and Haylee Brown (10), who combined for 39 of the team’s 54 kills, while Tessa Schouten (7 kills) and Chelsea Cocks collected four blocks apiece.

Not to be outdone, three-time reigning Pac-12 Setter of the Week Kendall Mairs led all players with 42 assists and collected seven digs, while Zara Stewart tied for match-high honors with 11 digs of her own to anchor the Aztec back row.

Despite trailing in team blocks (11.0 to 9.0), SDSU owned the statistical edge in kills (54-47), hitting percentage (.293 to .211) digs (49-35) and service aces (5-4) to spark its fifth consecutive victory over Gonzaga and increase its advantage to 6-1 in the all-time series.

The Aztecs came out firing on all cylinders in the opening set, blasting 16 kills in 26 attempts with just three errors for a crisp .500 hitting percentage. The Scarlet and Black featured a balanced attack from the outset, as Brown and Schouten launched four non-returnables apiece, while Schabort and Cocks terminated three shots each.

SDSU overcame an early 4-1 deficit, as three kills by Brown highlighted a 5-1 surge that vaulted the visitors in front for good at 6-5. Later in the set,  the Aztecs built a series of five-point leads, including a 16-11 spread after a Schouten put-away.

The Zags narrowed the gap to four on three occasions, including a 19-15 margin courtesy of a Lucy Slavik kill but could draw no closer. SDSU forged a strong 6-1 closing run to keep the host school at bay, as Cocks smashed two late kills, including the clincher.

Gonzaga flipped the script in the second stanza, where it out-hit the Scarlet and Black .424 to .026 and came up with six team blocks. The Zags knocked down 15 kills against one error in 33 attempts during the set. On the flip side, Schabort tried to keep the Aztecs within striking distance after launching six kills of her own, but it wasn’t enough.

Clinging to a slim 9-7 lead, Gonzaga gradually seized control, building an insurmountable 23-13 advantage after consecutive kills by Veronica Kjaer Sorenson.

Undaunted, SDSU responded with a stellar defensive effort in the third frame, limiting the Zags to a minus-.027 hitting percentage on eight kills against nine errors on 37 attempts. In addition, the Aztecs posted four team blocks, compared to one for the hosts, while benefiting from five unforced attack errors. Individually, Austin led the Scarlet and Black with three kills in the set, while Schouten and Brown terminated two shots apiece.

SDSU led wire-to-wire, building a commanding 13-5 lead after an Austin solo block. The Zags never drew closer than six points the rest of the way, as consecutive kills by Brown and Schouten provided the visitors with a comfortable 20-10 cushion. Shortly thereafter, Austin launched a late put-away before serving up an ace for the clinching point.

Set four proved to be the most competitive, as the teams combined for six ties and five lead changes. The Aztecs saved their best for last with their highest hitting percentage of the day after blasting 17 kills in 25 attempts with just four errors for a scintillating .520 efficiency.

Offensively, Austin led the way with seven kills in the final frame, while Schabort (.833) floored five of six shots without an error.  

SDSU seemingly took control after Schouten and Brown joined forces on a block to give the Scarlet and Black a 17-13 advantage. However, the Zags would not go quietly, crafting a 7-1 run to take the lead. Claire Wagstaff served up three aces in that stretch, while the Aztecs shot themselves in the proverbial foot with three attack errors.

Suddenly trailing 20-18 with the prospects of a fifth set looming , SDSU met the moment with a timely 7-2 outburst to close out the match. Austin sparked the run with four kills down the stretch, including the clincher, while Cocks and Mairs teamed up on a late block.

Sorensen led all players with 16 kills for Gonzaga, while Slavik came up with a match-high seven blocks in the loss.

San Diego State returns home for its next three straight matches, playing host to Boise State (Oct. 29), Washington State (Oct. 31) and Fresno State (Nov. 5) in succession at Peterson Gym.