Aztecs Win Fourth Straight after Sweeping Oregon State in Pac-12 Home Opener

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team opened its 2026 Pac-12 home schedule in style Thursday with a 3-0 whitewash (25-21, 25-20, 25-18) of Oregon State inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

With the victory, the Aztecs (9-6, 4-1 Pac-12) registered their second straight sweep and sixth of the season to extend their winning streak to four consecutive matches.

In addition, SDSU moved into sole possession of second place in the Pac-12 standings, one game behind front-runner Colorado State (12-3, 5-0 Pac-12).

Collectively, the Aztecs logged their second-highest hitting percentage of the season after finishing with a .345 clip, while the Beavers (8-7, 3-2 Pac-12) were limited to a .137 efficiency, marking the fourth-lowest production for an SDSU opponent this year.

The Scarlet and Black maintained the statistical advantage in most categories, including kills (42-36), digs (28-23) and team blocks (11.0 to 6.0), the latter of which marked a season best, to help snap a five-match slide against Oregon State dating back to 2000.

Individually, the Aztecs were led by the trio of Layla Austin (13 kills, .500), Haylee Brown (10 kills, .421) and Tessa Schouten (7 kills, .545), who each hit over .400 for the match and combined for 30 of the team’s 42 put-aways.

The SDSU cause was also aided by Taelyn Bentley, who collected a season-high seven blocks, including a pair of solo rejections, while Ella Scabort (6 kills) tied her career best with five assisted blocks.

Not to be outdone, reigning Pac-12 Setter of the Week Kendall Mairs led all players with 35 assists and tied for match-high honors with six digs, while Zara Stewart and Nazare Judd came up with four scoops apiece.

The Aztecs led wire-to-wire in the opening set, holding a slight edge in kills (13-12) and team blocks (5.0 to 4.0) while capitalizing on five unforced Beaver attack errors. Austin and Schouten each contributed four terminations in the frame, while Brown added three put-aways of her own.

Nursing a slim 10-9 advantage, SDSU fashioned a timely 7-2 run to build a seemingly comfortable 17-11 cushion. Brown highlighted the outburst with a pair of kills, while Schouten and Mairs combined on a block.

OSU would not go quietly, however, as an Isabel Bertelsen service ace capped a 9-5 surge, narrowing the gap to 22-20. Moments later, an errant attack derailed the Beavers’ momentum, while Schabort and Schouten added two late kills to keep the visitors at bay.

Oregon State maintained a 14-12 advantage in kills during the second stanza, but the Aztecs kept the pressure on with the edge in team blocks (4.0 to 1.0) to help forge a commanding 2-0 lead on the set scoreboard. SDSU displayed its balance throughout, as Austin and Brown launched three kills apiece, while Schabort and Schouten added two each.

Still, the Aztecs were unable to build on an early 7-3 lead, as the Beavers remained within striking distance for much of the frame, eventually knotting the score at 20-20 after an errant SDSU serve and a misguided attack.

However, the Scarlet and Black caught proverbial lightning in bottle with five straight points to close out the set. Brown, Schouten and Austin each floored a shot down the stretch, while OSU contributed to its own demise as well with a bad set and an attack error, the latter of which resulted in the clinching point for the Aztecs.

SDSU saved its best for last with a .500 hitting percentage in the third set, blasting 17 kills in 28 attempts with just three errors. Austin keyed the outburst with six non-returnables in eight attempts without an error (.750), while Brown smashed four kills of her own, followed by Bentley and Schabort with three apiece.

Nevertheless, the Beavers seemed poised to extend the match after building a 12-7 lead following an AC Froehlich kill and an Aztec attack error.

Unfazed, SDSU flashed its resolve, ultimately seizing control with a powerful 18-6 closing run to capture the set going away. Austin highlighted the blitz with four kills, while Bentley and Schabort knocked down three apiece. With match point suddenly in plain sight, the Aztecs quickly completed the sweep, as Brown launched her 10th kill of the night to tie her season high.

Froehlich led all players with 14 kills, while Alana Marrs (5 blocks), Taray Tela and Beatrice Spada totaled six put-aways apiece for Oregon State in the loss.

San Diego State returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 10, when it plays host to Gonzaga at noon PT. The Zags (5-11, 0-4 Pac-12) fell in four sets at Texas State on Thursday.