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Aztecs snap nine-match losing streak
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
September 24, 2022 (San Diego) - The San Diego State volleyball team received double-digit kills from three players to go with solid back-row support en route to a four-set victory over Nevada (25-16, 25-22, 20-25, 26-24) in a Mountain West match Saturday on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
With the win, the Aztecs snap a nine-match losing streak, moving to 3-10 overall and 1-1 in the MW, while the Wolf Pack drop to 7-6 on the season with an identical 1-1 mark in conference play.
Freshman Madison Corf led all players with a career-best 22 kills, while sophomore Mikela Labno launched 14 put-aways, followed closely by senior Kayla Rivera’s season-high 13 non-returnables.
Despite 26 hitting errors, the Scarlet and Black kept up the barrage, posting season bests in kills (71), attempts (156) and hitting percentage (.295) to spark their victory.
Not to be outdone, the SDSU defense held firm, limiting Nevada to just 39 kills and a .203 efficiency after notching a season-high 77 digs. Individually, freshman McKenna Douglas established a career best with 26 digs, while Ellie Geoghegan added 13 scoops of her own.
The Aztec charge also included Noa Miller (7 digs), who tied her collegiate high with 31 assists even though she shared the setter duties with Kennedy Feuerborn (15 assists) and Sarena Gonzalez (9 assists, 4 digs).
Despite 20 kills in the fourth and final frame, SDSU trailed by as many as five points at 15-10 after a ball-handling error. In addition, the Aztecs faced the possibility of letting a 2-0 lead in sets evaporate after the Wolf Pack grabbed a 23-19 lead on a kill by Sia Liilii. Moments later, the Scarlet and Black was gifted two points on a Nevada service error and a wayward attack sandwiched around a Corf kill.
SDSU returned the favor with its own mishandled ball shortly thereafter, which gave the visitors a 24-22 edge. However, the Aztecs flashed their resiliency by closing with four straight points to secure the win. First, the Wolf Pack committed an attack error, while Rivera and Julia Haynie soon followed with consecutive kills to vault in front. Then Douglas stepped up a delivered a match-clinching ace as the Aztec bench erupted in jubilation.
Corf blasted eight kills alone in the fourth stanza alone, while Labno contributed five put-aways in that stretch, as the two teams combined for five ties and eight lead changes.
Kayla Afoa led Nevada with a double-double on 10 kills and 13 digs but was limited to just a .085 hitting percentage after committing six errors in 47 attempts. In addition, SDSU survived a big day at the net from Bella Snyder (5 kills), who led all players with seven block assists, while Andrea Alcaraz finished with a double-double as well on 21 assists and 10 digs.
The Aztecs took care of business in the opening set, posting a .516 efficiency on 19 kills in 31 attempts with just three errors. Corf powered down eight kills in the frame, hitting at a .538 clip with one miscue in 13 swings, while Haynie added four non-returnables of her own. SDSU found itself trailing 9-7 in the early going before seizing momentum with a opportune 18-7 closing rush.
San Diego State opens a four-match road swing next week, starting Tuesday, Sept. 27 when it travels to the Central Valley to face Fresno State starting at 6 p.m.
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