2023 SEASON (As A Sophomore): Played in 28 matches with six starts, averaging 4.94 assists and 1.37 digs across 103 sets in the Aztecs' 6-2 rotation… Ranked second on the team with 509 assists while occupying the fifth spot with 137 digs… Also contributed five kills and four service aces… Surpassed the 20-assist plateau on 11 occasions… Made three starts apiece in a pair of preseason tournaments at the San Diego State and UC San Diego Invitationals… Posted season highs of 28 assists and two service aces in the Aztecs’ sweep of Denver at the UCSD event (9-8-23)… Also knocked down a career-high two kills vs. the Pioneers… Helped the Scarlet and Black defeat Wyoming on the road for the second year in a row after dishing out 19 assists and scooping up five digs against the Cowgirls (9-30-23)… Logged her first three collegiate double-doubles, including a 14-assist, 13-dig effort vs. New Mexico, the latter of which marked a career high (10-7-23)… Recorded 22 assists and 10 digs in the Aztecs’ four-set triumph over Boise State at home (10-19-23)… Ended the season with a 20-assist, 12-dig performance against UNLV (11-18-23)… Was named to the Mountain West traveling volleyball team, along with fellow Aztec Taylor Underwood, that will compete this summer at the 2024 Global Challenge in Slovenia and Croatia.
2022 SEASON (As A Freshman): Was one of three freshmen to appear in all 31 matches for the Aztecs during the 2022 campaign, earning a starting role on 11 occasions … Averaged 4.58 assists and 1.00 digs across 107 sets … Finished second on the team in assists (490) while occupying the fifth spot in digs (107) … Also served up 10 aces and tallied three kills … Compiled double-digit assist totals in 24 matches and dished out 20 or more helpers on nine occasions, including four straight appearances from Aug. 27-Sept. 3 … Received a starting assignment in her collegiate debut vs. California at the SDSU Invitational, posting 16 assists and five digs (8-26-22) … Helped the Aztecs close out their home tournament with two straight wins over Army and UC San Diego, highlighted by a 30-assist performance in a four-set triumph in that latter contest against the Tritons (8-27-22) … Started all three matches for the Scarlet and Black at the Pepperdine ASICS Classic, handing out over 20 assists vs. No. 9 Baylor (25), the host Waves (24) and UC Santa Barbara (21) (9-2/3-22) … Served up a season-high three aces against Maryland at the Aztec Classic (9-9-22) … Knocked down her first collegiate kill and dished out nine assists in a 3-1 home victory over Nevada (9-24-22) … Set a collegiate best with eight digs off the bench at Colorado State (10-27-22) … Cracked the starting lineup in SDSU’s four-set triumph at Wyoming, notching a career-high 31 assists, as the Aztecs broke a seven-match losing streak to the Cowgirls and emerged victorious for the first time in 10 trips to Laramie dating back to 2012 (10-29-22) … Totaled 15 assists and seven digs in SDSU’s four-set home win over Boise State (11-3-22) … Racked up double-digit assists in her final four matches of the season, including road victories at Nevada and San José State, helping the Aztecs clinch the sixth and final spot in the Mountain West Championship … Totaled 20 assists against the Wolf Pack before finishing with 16 helpers vs. the Spartans, as the Scarlet and Black dealt SJSU its lone home defeat of the 2022 campaign … Saw action in all five sets in SDSU’s first-round upset of tournament host Colorado State at the MW Championship when she handed out 20 assists (11-23-22) … Ended the season with a 12-assist, seven-dig effort vs. San José State in the conference semifinals (11-24-22).
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated in 2022 from Temecula Valley High School, where she won three varsity letters in volleyball … Received all-Southwestern Conference recognition as a senior after helping the Golden Bears advance to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs … Was also named her junior varsity team’s Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman after leading that squad to the league championship … Excelled in the classroom as well, landing on the Principal’s Honor Roll all four years … Also drew interest from UNLV during the recruiting process.
PERSONAL: Sarena Gonzalez was born in Vista, California … Parents are Carlos and Jaclyn Gonzalez … Enjoys painting and watching movies with family … Lists Michael Jordan as her favorite athlete … Plans to major in biology at San Diego State with career plans to become an orthodontist.
Sarena Gonzalez Season 2023
#16Aztecs Blank Lobos for Eighth Sweep of Season
With the Mountain West Championship rapidly approaching, the San Diego State volleyball team picked up a much-needed victory Thursday in its penultimate match of the regular season with a 3-0 whitewash of New Mexico (25-17, 25-18, 25-17) inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
Aztecs Set to Host New Mexico, Air Force in Final Home Matches
The San Diego State volleyball team wraps up its 2024 regular-season schedule with a pair of home matches this week, batting New Mexico (Nov. 21) and Air Force (Nov. 23) inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
Aztecs Toppled in Four Sets at Utah State
The San Diego State volleyball team wrapped up its road trip on a sour note Saturday, dropping a four-set decision to Utah State (19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 19-25) in a Mountain West clash in Logan, Utah.
Aztecs Drop Four-Setter at Nevada, Still Clinch MW Tourney Berth
Despite falling in four sets at Nevada Thursday night, the San Diego State volleyball team clinched a spot in the Mountain West Championship after UNLV lost at Utah State later that evening.
Aztecs Gear Up For Road Matches at Nevada, Utah State
The San Diego State volleyball team makes its final road trip of the regular season this weekend when it takes on Nevada (Nov. 14) and Utah State (Nov. 16) in a pair of pivotal Mountain West matches.
Aztecs Celebrate Mark Warner Day with Four-Set Victory over Spartans
The San Diego State volleyball team completed an unblemished weekend homestand Saturday with a four-set triumph over San José State (25-18, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19) in a Mountain West clash inside a boisterous Aztec Court at Peterson Gym to highlight the team’s alumni reunion festivities.
Total Team Effort Propels Aztecs Past Fresno State in Five Sets
The San Diego State volleyball team received double-digit kills from five players in a dramatic five-set victory over Fresno State (25-16, 22-25, 25-18, 20-25, 15-10) Thursday in a Mountain West clash on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
Aztecs Open Two-Match Homestand This Week
After splitting two road matches, San Diego State returns home this week to face Fresno State (Nov. 7) and San José State (Nov. 9) in a pair of key Mountain West encounters on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
Aztecs Fall in Three Sets at Colorado State
The San Diego State volleyball team kept the score close the first two sets of Saturday’s Mountain West showdown at first-place Colorado State but was unable to extend the match, ultimately dropping a tough 3-0 decision (25-27, 21-25, 14-25) inside Moby Arena.
Aztecs Complete Season Sweep of Wyoming With Another 3-0 Triumph
The San Diego State volleyball team recorded its second straight sweep of Wyoming with a three-set blanking (25-20, 25-17, 25-21) Thursday in a Mountain West match at UniWyo Sports Complex in Laramie, Wyoming.
Aztecs Set For Road Tests at Wyoming, Colorado State
The San Diego State volleyball team continues its road swing this weekend when it travels to the Front Range of the Rockies to battle Wyoming (Oct. 31) and Colorado State (Nov. 2) in a pair of key Mountain West matches.
Aztecs Set for Thursday Night Battle at Boise State
The San Diego State volleyball team opens the second half of its Mountain West regular-season schedule on Thursday, Oct. 24, when it hits the road to face Boise State in a key conference matchup at Bronco Gym in Boise, Idaho. First serve is set for 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Prep for Tuesday Night Block Party vs. UNLV
Winners of two straight and four of its last five, the San Diego State volleyball team wraps up its three-match homestand Oct. 22, when it squares off against UNLV as part of the Mountain West's Tuesday Night Block Party promotion.
Aztecs Set for Key MW Matches vs Colorado State, Wyoming This Week
After splitting two road matches, San Diego State returns home this week to face Colorado State (Oct. 17) and Wyoming (Oct. 19) in a pair of key Mountain West showdowns on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
Aztecs Fall in Tough Five-Set Battle at Fresno State
Despite double-digit kill totals from five players, the San Diego State volleyball team squandered a 2-1 lead in sets on Saturday, dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Fresno State (18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 21-25, 12-15) in a Mountain West clash in Fresno, California.
Aztecs Set for Key MW Road Swing This Week
Following a brief two-match homestand, San Diego State hits the road this week for a pair of Mountain West showdowns, squaring off against San José State (Oct. 10) and Fresno State (Oct. 12).
Aztecs Unable to Withstand Utah State Comeback in Five-Set Defeat
The San Diego State volleyball team suffered its second straight five-set defeat on Thursday after falling to Utah State (25-21, 25-23, 25-27, 18-25, 13-15) in a Mountain West match inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
Aztecs Return Home to Face Utah State, Nevada
After a six-match road swing over the last three weeks, San Diego State opens the home portion of its Mountain West schedule when the Aztecs battle Utah State (Thursday) and Nevada (Saturday) inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
Aztecs Drop Heartbreaker at New Mexico
The San Diego State volleyball team had its five-match winning streak snapped Saturday in a heart-breaking five-set loss to New Mexico (22-25, 25-27, 26-24, 25-14, 14-16) in Albuquerque, N.M.
Aztec Surge Past Air Force in MW Opener
The San Diego State volleyball team overcame a sluggish start to power past Air Force in four sets (16-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-13) Thursday night in the Mountain West opener for both teams at the USAF Academy in Colorado.
Aztecs Prep For MW Openers at Air Force, New Mexico
San Diego State opens its 26th season of Mountain West competition this weekend when it visits Air Force (Sept. 26) and New Mexico (Sept. 28).
Aztecs Outlast EWU in Five-Set Thriller
San Diego State wrapped up its non-conference slate Saturday with another gritty five-set victory, dispatching Eastern Washington (23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 21-25, 15-12) in its final encounter of the Gonzaga Invitational in Spokane, Washington.
Aztecs Escape with Five-Set Nail-Biter at Gonzaga
San Diego State needed a fifth-set rally to overcome Gonzaga’s upset bid on Friday, as the Aztecs hung on for a 3-2 triumph (25-14, 25-14, 21-25, 18-25, 15-12) in their opening match of the Gonzaga Invitational in Spokane, Washington.
Aztecs Finish Perfect Weekend with Sweep of California Baptist
Behind Kat Cooper's career-high 10 kills, the San Diego State volleyball team completed its third sweep of the season on Saturday with a 3-0 whitewash of California Baptist (25-11, 25-22, 25-22) in Riverside, California.
Aztecs Topple UC Riverside in Four Sets
San Diego State overcame an early deficit to record a 3-1 victory over UC Riverside (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21) on Friday in its opening match of the CBU/UCR Challenge on the campus of California Baptist in Riverside, California.
Aztecs to Open 2024 Schedule at ISU Tournament
San Diego State opens its highly anticipated 2024 season this weekend when it travels to the Gateway of the Northwest for the Idaho State Tournament, Aug. 30-Sept. 1, in Pocatello Idaho. The Aztecs will face ISU, CSUN and Seattle on successive days.