SDSU VOLLEYBALL: AZTECS DEFEAT UC SANTA BARBARA IN THREE SETS

Volleyball records three-set win over UCSB

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: Alexis Cage had nine kills, two blocks and six digs in the win over UC Santa Barbara Friday evening.  Via goaztecs.com

September 16, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State combined a balanced attack with some solid defensive play as it needed just three sets to defeat visiting UC Santa Barbara (25-21, 25-21, 27-25) Friday evening on Aztec court. With the victory SDSU improved to 6-5 on the season while the Gauchos saw a three-match winning streak end and their record fall to 8-3.

Sophomore outside hitter Alexandra Psoma led San Diego State with 12 kills and also added three blocks and seven digs. Teammate Alexis Cage ended the evening with nine kills along with a pair of blocks and six digs.

Deja Harris, who finished with seven kills and a .357 hitting percentage, led both teams with five blocks as she improved her season average to one block per set.

Setter Indigo Thompson, meanwhile, went for her third double-double of the season with 36 assists and a team-high 11 digs.

Statistically, the match was fairly even as UCSB ended with 39 kills to 42 for SDSU. The Aztecs led in team hitting percentage (.263 to .223) and held a slight edge in assists (39-35) and total team blocks (8.0-7.0).

In the opening set, UC Santa Barbara jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but the Aztec closed to within 8-6 before running off five straight points to take an 11-8 lead. The Gauchos would tie the score at 14-14, but from there SDSU scored three in a row to take the lead for good and go on to the four-point win. Deja Harris led San Diego State with three kills and three blocks while three others tallied two kills apiece.

The second set was another close contest that saw the Aztecs forge a 5-4 advantage and hold the lead over the remainder of the contest. SDSU extended its lead to as many as six points at 21-15 before finishing off the contest with another four-point victory. Alexandra Psoma had five kills for the Aztecs while teammate Alexis Cage had four.

Set number three was the tightest of the match with the score tied on eight occasions. San Diego State held a 23-20 lead late in the contest, but the Gauchos tied it at 24-all before an Aztec attack error gave the visitors a chance at set point. A kill by Psoma, however, tied it up at 25-25 after which SDSU got kills from Cage followed by the set and match winner from Psoma. That twosome led the Aztecs in kills in the set with Psoma recording five and Cage notching four.

San Diego State continues action during its current five-match home stand on Saturday, Sept. 17, when it takes on Long Beach State at 2:30 p.m. on Aztec Court. The Aztecs will then face Cal State Fullerton tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m.

View the final box score here.