SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State volleyball team continues its homestand this week when it squares off against Wyoming and Colorado State in a pair of Mountain West matches.
The Aztecs will engage the Cowgirls on Thursday, Nov. 9, beginning at 6 p.m. PT, before locking horns with the Rams on Saturday, Nov. 11, starting at 1 p.m.
In addition to live stats, both contests will be streamed live via the Mountain West Network, with links to both platforms available on GoAztecs.com. Fans can also watch the live action on their smartphones or TVs by downloading the MW app.
Free scrunchies will be presented to the first 250 fans prior to Thursday's clash with Wyoming, while the Scarlet and Black will celebrate Veteran's Day for the Colorado State match with a Military Appreciation giveaway, offering a free pair of SDSU U.S. flag sunglasses to the first 250 spectators.
The Aztecs split a pair of home matches last week, completing a narrow sweep of Nevada on Nov. 2 (25-22, 25-23, 25-22) before dropping a wild 3-1 decision to Fresno State two days later (25-27, 25-15, 29-31, 20-25).
With the two weeks left in the regular season, SDSU (9-16, 4-10 MW) is slotted ninth in the conference standings, three matches behind a pair of fifth-place squads in UNLV (15-11, 7-7 MW) and Air Force (15-10, 7-7 MW), as the top six teams qualify for the Mountain West Championship later this month in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition, Boise State (11-14, 7-8 MW) occupies the seventh position in the MW race, while Wyoming (17-8, 6-8 MW) sits in eighth.
The Scarlet and Black is in the midst of a six-match span where it will leave "America's Finest City" just once prior to the end of the regular season when it heads to the Bay Area to play San José State on Thursday, Nov. 16.
Four Aztecs averaged over two kills per set last weekend, including Taylor Underwood (3.29) and Heipua Tautua'a (3.14), along with Madison Corf (2.42) and Julia Haynie (2.14). Underwood hit .304 in two matches, committing six errors in 56 attempts with 23 kills, while Haynie led the team with six blocks, including a pair of solo stops.
In addition, the Scarlet and Black received a team-high 28 digs from McKenna Douglas (4.00/set), while Bailey Darnell (2.86, 20 overall) averaged over two scoops per set as well.
The Aztecs also received a boost from freshman Amber Keen, who made two starts last weekend, knocking down 11 kills without an error in 22 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage to go with five block assists.
In a match characterized as a defensive struggle, SDSU maintained a decisive edge in kills (41-27) and held a slight edge in service aces (6-5) against Nevada, as each side posted 23 attack errors, 46 digs and eight team blocks apiece. Additionally, the Aztecs survived nine service errors, compared to four for the Wolf Pack, to hold on for the victory.
Individually, Underwood led all players with 12 kills, while Tautua'a and Corf finished with eight put-aways each. Haynie (.417) also launched seven non-returnables of her own and totaled a match-high five blocks, including a solo rejection.
Once again Douglas provided support along the back row, collecting a match-best 17 digs, while Darnell scooped up eight shots, helping limit Nevada to a .039 hitting percentage, the lowest by an SDSU opponent this season.
The Aztecs seemed poised to run away with the third set after racing to an 11-4 lead. However, the Wolf Pack responded with a 15-7 surge to vault in front by a 19-18 score. SDSU was plagued by three Wolf Pack aces, two wayward serves of its own, a bad set and a ball-handling error in that span. However, the Aztecs flashed their resiliency, as the host school quickly regrouped with a 7-3 closing run to complete the sweep.
Despite a high-flying attack, San Diego State was unable to duplicate the success against Fresno State two days later. The Aztecs posted their second-highest hitting percentage of the season with a .305 clip, but it wasn't enough to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Bulldogs, who finished with a .352 efficiency in a see-saw battle.
The teams were statistically even for the most part, as SDSU tied its season high with 10 service aces, compared to eight for Fresno State. However, the Bulldogs maintained a slight edge in kills (61-60) and team blocks (9.0 to 6.0), overcoming 12 service errors to escape with the win. The Aztecs' 60 put-aways marked the squad's highest output in a four-set contest this season.
SDSU was paced by Tautua'a, who tied for match-high honors with 14 kills, while Underwood blasted 11 strikes of her own. The Aztec charge was also advanced by Corf (.333), who totaled nine kills and three blocks, including two solo stuffs, while Keen launched a career-high seven non-returnables without an error in 11 swings, finishing with a .636 hitting percentage to go with a pair of block assists.
The teams combined for 21 ties and eight lead changes for the day. SDSU found itself in pursuit mode for most of the third stanza, as Fresno State ultimately built a 22-15 lead. Incredibly, the Aztecs fought themselves off the proverbial ropes with a gritty 14-6 surge to reach set point in extended play at 29-28.
SDSU received two kills apiece from Underwood, Tautua'a and Darnell in that span, as the latter supplied a service ace as well, along with Douglas. However, the Bulldogs abruptly stole the momentum with two kills, sandwiched around an Aztec ball-handling error.
Set four witnessed five early ties and four lead changes, with SDSU nearly overcoming a five-point deficit after knotting the score at 18-18 with a 7-2 blitz. Underwood fueled the run with consecutive aces, while Haynie blasted a pair of kills. However, the Aztecs were unable to seize the upper hand, as Fresno State closed out the match with a 7-2 spurt of its own.
As of Nov. 8, Douglas is slotted second in the Mountain West with 3.81 digs per set against conference opponents, while occupying the fifth position in that category for all matches with 3.68 scoops per frame.
In addition, Underwood is slotted fourth in the MW with 3.44 kills per set against league foes while ranking ninth for all matches with a team-high 3.12 put-aways per frame.
Elsewhere, Haynie occupies the sixth position in the Mountain West for all matches with a .345 hitting percentage and is ranked 10th in that statistic (.308) during conference play, while Hall is slotted ninth in assists against league competition (6.21/set) and 10th in overall matches (5.93/set).
In a home clash with Air Force on Oct. 5, Underwood (.481) smashed a career-high 31 kills, which represents the highest figure in the Mountain West this season. Additionally, the Aztec opposite hitter set a school record for put-aways in the rally scoring era (since 2001) and logged the highest kill total by an SDSU player since Martina Vitkova-Engels (37) and Carrie Mapes (33) combined for 70 non-returnables in the Aztecs' five-set triumph over Wyoming in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament during the sideout era on Nov. 25, 1997.
Not to be outdone, Underwood's career-high five aces against both Denver and Eastern Washington are tied for the sixth-best output in the conference this season, while Hall's 47 assists vs. Cal State Fullerton in the season opener are tied for the seventh-highest total in a four-set match.
Underwood, Douglas and Hall are the only Aztecs to play all 92 sets this season, while Gonzalez has missed just four sets on the year.
Collectively, San Diego State sits among the top of half the conference in two statistics for all matches this week, ranking third in assists (12.27/set) and fourth in kills (13.21/set). In addition, the Aztecs are slotted seventh in digs (12.83/set), eighth in hitting percentage (.203) and 10th in service aces (1.28/set).
SDSU's total of 77 team kills and 75 assists vs. Air Force on Oct. 5 are the highest single-match totals in the conference so far this season, while its 48 helpers and 50 put-aways at UCSD are tied for the fourth- and fifth-best figures in the league, respectively, for a three-set contest this year.
In MW matches, the Aztecs rank third in digs (13.35/set) and assists (12.26/set), fourth in kills (13.21/set) and ninth in hitting percentage (.196).
On the national level, the Scarlet and Black occupies the 68th position with 12.27 assists per set and 13.21 kills per set as of Nov 8. In the sixth RPI ratings of the year, San Diego State ranks No. 193 in the nation, one of 10 Mountain West teams in the top 200 along with Utah State (15), Colorado State (60), New Mexico (101), Wyoming (110), Air Force (117), UNLV (127), Boise State (147), Fresno State (165) and San José State (195).
SDSU owns a 6-9 record in matches following a loss this season. The Aztecs are also 3-5 in Thursday contests and 3-8 when playing on a Saturday this year. In addition, San Diego State is 5-6 in three-set matches, 4-7 in four-set contests and 0-3 in five-set affairs this season.
Among newcomers, freshman Campbell Hague has been vying for more playing time after knocking down 45 kills (1.41/set) in her last nine appearances, including a season-high eight at Wyoming on Sept. 30. The Cheney, Kansas, native was also credited with three block assists in eight of the last two matches vs. Nevada and Fresno State.
Entering the weekend, Wyoming (17-8, 6-8 MW) sits in eighth place in the conference standings, two matches ahead of the Aztecs, after splitting a pair of four-set road matches last week. The Cowgirls fell at Colorado State on Oct. 31 (19-25, 13-25, 25-21, 23-25) before completing a season sweep of San José State with a triumph in Silicon Valley on Nov. 4 (25-23, 25-21, 27-29-25-13).
With those results, Wyoming moves to 8-5 in road/neutral matches this season to go with a 9-3 mark at home. SDSU dealt the Cowgirls one of their three home losses this season with a four-set triumph in Laramie on Sept. 30 (21-25, 27-25, 25-22, 25-16).
In that contest, Wyoming seemed poised to take a 2-0 lead in sets after building a 23-20 lead in the second stanza courtesy of an Aztec attack error. However, SDSU flashed its resiliency, crafting an improbable 7-2 closing run, which changed the complexion of the match. Bolstered by its newfound momentum, the Aztecs held the Cowgirls to a combined 15 kills and a minus-.031 efficiency over the final two sets to pull away for the victory.
Despite trailing in team blocks (16.0 to 11.0), SDSU owned sizable advantages in kills (54-39) and digs (63-42), limiting Wyoming to a paltry .111 attack percentage, including a minus-.125 clip in the decisive fourth set.
Individually, the Aztecs received double-digit kills from three players, including Taylor Underwood, who blasted a match-high 15 put-aways, while Heipua Tautua'a and Julia Haynie launched 10 non-returnables apiece, helping the Scarlet and Back emerge triumphant in Laramie for the second year in a row after suffering 10 straight defeats there from 2012-21.
With the victory, San Diego State leads the all-time series against Wyoming 38-25 in 63 encounters since 1984.
For the season, the Cowgirls have been paced by outside hitter Rylee Schulz, a native of nearby Carlsbad who is slotted fifth in the Mountain West with 3.29 kills per set, while middle blocker Tierney Barlow (2.99/set) and outside hitter Corin Carruth (2.62/set) are also averaging more the 2.5 put-aways per frame.
Barlow is slotted fourth in the conference with a .376 hitting percentage for all matches and ranks fifth in blocks (1.15/sets) just behind Sarah Holcomb (1.15), who occupies the fourth spot.
Not to be outdone, setter Kasia Partyka tops the conference in assists (10.67/set), which ranks 12th in the nation as of Nov. 8, while libero Skylar Erickson (2.64/set) is one of four Cowgirls averaging over two digs per set, along with Sierra Grizzle (2.60), Partyka (2.29) and Schulz (2.01).
As a team, Wyoming leads the league in three categories, including blocks (2.62/set), assists (12.26/set) and kills (13.43/set), which rank 25th, 32nd and 47th in the country, respectively, entering the week. In addition, the Cowgirls occupy the third position in the MW in hitting percentage (.250) and are slotted sixth in digs (13.16/set) and eighth in aces (1.40/set).
Wyoming is under the direction of first-year head coach Kaylee Prigge, who was promoted to her position after serving four seasons as an assistant with the Cowgirls, including the last two as associate head coach.
Prior to her tenure in Laramie, Prigge was an assistant for two years at Illinois Chicago in 2017 and 2018 after spending two stints at her alma mater, the University of Tampa (2013 and 2015-17). She is the daughter of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter.
Prior to facing the Aztecs on Saturday, Colorado State will travel to Sin City on Thursday night to battle UNLV. The Rams (15-10, 9-5 MW) are currently tied with New Mexico and Fresno State for second place in the Mountain West standings after winning two matches last week. CSU defeated Wyoming in four sets on Oct. 31 (25-19, 25-13, 21-25, 25-23) before notching a 3-2 comeback victory at San José State two days later (20-25, 25-14, 24-26, 25-15, 15-11).
With the results, the Rams moved to 8-5 at home on the year while maintaining a combined 7-5 ledger in road/neutral matches.
CSU is led by junior Malaya Jones, who ranks fourth in the MW as of Nov. 8 with 3.44 kills per set, while seniors Annie Sullivan (2.73) and Kennedy Stanford (2.41) are also averaging over two put-aways per frame.
Not to be outdone, the Rams boast two of the league's most efficient hitters in seniors Naeemah Weathers and Karina Leber. Weathers has taken over the top spot in the MW with a .431 clip for all matches, while Leber is slotted seventh with a .333 hitting percentage.
In addition, senior Emery Herman finds herself among the conference leaders, ranking second in assists (10.14/set), while sophomore Katie Yoshimoto occupies the eighth position in digs (3.40/set).
Collectively, the Rams top the Mountain West with a .282 hitting percentage for all matches while ranking fourth in assists (12.11/set) and fifth in kills (13.11/set). In addition, CSU is slotted eighth in digs (12.70) and blocks (1.93/set) but occupies the 10th position in both opponent hitting percentage (.236) and blocks (2.05/set).
Nationally, the Rams are 15th in team kills (1,377) and 16th in hitting percentage as of Nov. 8.
Colorado State is under the direction of first-year head coach Emily Kohan, who was promoted to the position after spending seven seasons as an assistant with Rams, including the last four as associate head coach. With Kohan on staff, CSU qualified for postseason play on five occasions and captured four Mountain West titles while boasting 32 all-conference players.
Prior to her arrival in Fort Collins, Kohan served a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Oregon State from 2012-15. She was a four-year captain at Iowa during her playing career (2005-08), earning her bachelor's degree in business administration in 2009.
The Aztecs trail the all-time series vs. the Rams 49-18 after dropping a narrow 3-1 decision at Moby Arena on Sept. 28 (25-21, 22-25, 17-25, 23-25).
In a statistically even affair for the most part, the two sides combined for 30 ties and 19 lead changes, with CSU owning a slight edge in kills (54-53), service aces (5-4) and digs (52-51). However, SDSU committed four more attack errors (25-21) and errant serves (9-5), while the Rams maintained the advantage in total blocks (11.0 to 6.0) to pull away for the victory.
Madison Corf and Mikela Labno led the Aztecs with 11 put-aways apiece, while Taylor Underwood launched 10 strikes of her own, but it wasn't enough.
Trailing 2-1 in sets, SDSU fought valiantly to extend the match, as the teams witnessed 13 ties and seven lead changes in the fourth stanza. Corf blasted four of her kills in the frame, while Elly Schraeder floored three shots without an error to go with a trio of block assists.
The Aztecs surged ahead 23-22 with three straight points on consecutive Corf kills and a CSU attack error. However, the Rams countered with a 3-0 closing run, knocking down two kills sandwiched around an ace to abruptly end the match.
Following Saturday's contest, San Diego State wraps up its regular-season schedule next week by splitting a pair of matches between the road and home, traveling to San José State on Thursday, Nov. 16, before playing host to UNLV on Saturday, Nov. 18.
Aztecs to Host Wyoming, Colorado State This Week
