Aztecs Complete Season Sweep of Fresno State with 3-1 Home Victory

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team received double-digit kills from three players to help pull off a gritty 3-1 victory (25-12, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19) over a stubborn Fresno State squad on Thursday in a Pac-12 clash inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

With the decision, the Aztecs (15-7, 10-2 Pac-12) complete the season sweep against the Bulldogs (7-15, 2-9 Pac-12) and capture their sixth straight win in the head-to-head series.

SDSU featured the three-pronged attack of Layla Austin (14), Ella Schabort (11) and Tessa Schouten (10), who combined for 35 of the team’s 48 kills, while Taelyn Bentley got into the act with six put-aways of her own, finishing with a .600 hitting percentage after recording 10 attempts without an error.

Schouten posted a sparkling .529 efficiency as well after committing just one error in 17 swings. The Aztec middle blocker also tied Bentley and Schabort for team-high honors with three blocks.

Not to be outdone, Kendall Mairs completed her 14th double-double of the year after leading all players with 40 assists and collecting 13 digs, while Austin accomplished the feat for the sixth time this season after totaling 10 digs on the night.

Elsewhere, Zara Stewart posted a match-high 16 digs to anchor the defense, while Annelise Rising (4 kills) and Haylee Brown (3 kills, 1 block assist) aided the SDSU cause off the bench.

Along with a deficiency in team blocks (8.0 to 6.0) and service aces (8-6), the Aztecs also overcame their own 18 service errors in the mistaken-laden contest, maintaining a 48-35 advantage in kills and a 50-45 spread in digs to help key the victory. In addition, SDSU out-hit Fresno State .250 to .067, benefitting from 21 unforced attack errors by the Bulldogs, who finished with 15 errant serves on their side of the net as well.

After eight early ties and four lead changes, the Aztecs seized control with a dominant 15-2 closing run in the opening set that broke a 10-10 deadlock. Austin helped ignite the outburst with two kills and a service, while Schabort later terminated a shot and joined forces with Schouten on consecutive blocks. Moments later, Schouten launched a non-returnable, while Bentley twirled an ace for the clinching point.

In all, SDSU logged its highest hitting percentage with a .333 clip in the frame, knocking down 11 kills in 24 attempts with just three errors. On the flip side, Bulldogs were saddled with a minus-.100 efficiency, mustering just four kills against seven miscues in 30 swings.

The second stanza was a much tighter affair that witnessed 11 ties and five lead changes. The teams also combined for 15 errant serves, including eight by the Aztecs, who were also plagued by four serve aces. However, the Scarlet and Black maintained a 10-8 advantage in kills to escape. Schabort launched four put-aways during the frame, while Bentley floored three shots of her own.

With the score knotted at 20-20, SDSU crafted a timely 5-3 spurt down the stretch to keep the Bulldogs at bay and build a commanding 2-0 lead on the set scoreboard. Schabort teamed with Bentley on a block to spark the run before blasting two late kills, including the clincher. The Aztecs also withstood two service errors and a Gabby Lombardi ace during that span.

The Aztecs seemed poised to complete the sweep after a Schouten kill gave the host school an 8-3 advantage early in the third set. However, the Bulldogs remained within striking distance, eventually vaulting in front for good at 20-18 after consecutive put-aways by Jenna Legault and Kiley Devery. Shortly thereafter, Fresno State reached set point at 24-20 courtesy of Devery’s joint block with Michon Sailors, while Alivia Schneider followed with a kill.

SDSU quickly responded with three straight points on an Austin kill and service ace sandwiched around a Schabort termination. However, the Bulldogs dashed the Aztecs’ comeback hopes with another Devery kill to extend the match.

Overall, Fresno State maintained a 15-12 advantage in kills during the set, with Austin (5) and Schouten (4) leading the way for the Scarlet and Black.

SDSU found itself on the wrong side of a 10-8 score in the fourth stanza after a service error and a combined block by Sailors and Schneider. However, the Aztecs responded with their trademark resolve, engineering a definitive 11-3 run to seize control. Schouten keyed the blitz with three kills and a solo block, while Rising contributed two put-aways to help give the hosts a sizable 19-13 advantage.

The Bulldogs trimmed the margin to 19-17 with four consecutive points, featuring a combined block by Lombardi and Sailors along with a Legault kill. However, the visitors were unable to narrow the gap, as SDSU fashioned a 6-2 run to close out the match. Austin was unstoppable down the stretch after smashing three kills, while Bentley provided a solo block. In addition, the Aztecs were gifted two points on a pair of attack errors, including one that fittingly occurred on the final serve.

Collectively, SDSU owned a 15-8 advantage in kills during the fourth set to counter three team blocks and a service ace by Fresno State.

The Bulldogs were led by Devery’s 11 kills, while Brooklyn Washington (.438) finished with nine put-aways in the loss.

San Diego State will enjoy an open date on Saturday before returning to action for a road match at Texas State on Thursday, Nov. 12 in San Marcos, Texas. The Aztecs will then close out their regular-season home schedule on Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. Colorado State.