Aztecs Stymie UNLV in Four Sets on Tuesday

SAN DIEGO – The Mountain West’s Tuesday Night Block Party volleyball promotion lived up to its billing, as host San Diego State registered a four-set triumph over UNLV (25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19) in a key conference match on Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.

The Aztecs (14-5, 6-3 MW) set a season high with 17 team blocks to win their third straight and move into a tie for third place in the MW standings, one-half game behind co-leaders Colorado State and Fresno State.

Defensively, SDSU was paced by Shea Rubright’s career-high 11 blocks, including a trio of solo stops, while Natalie Hughes also set a collegiate best with seven rejections of her own, featuring a solo stuff as well. Not to be outdone, Kat Cooper equaled her career high with five block assists, helping the Scarlet and Black snap a four-match slide against the Rebels (10-10, 3-6 MW), who lost their third straight.

On the attack, Taylor Underwood led all players with 16 kills, hitting .375 for the night after committing just four errors in 32 attempts, while Talea Mitchell also reached double figures in that statistic with 14 put-aways, as both players contributed a pair of block assists.

In addition, Jasmine Davis launched nine non-returnables of her own and tied for match-high honors with 17 digs, while Gianna Bender (13) and Keira Herron (10) compiled double-digit scoops as well.

Along with their blocking numbers, the Aztecs also received six kills from Cooper and another five from Rubright, while Fatimah Hall (23 assists) and Andrea Campos (16 assists, 2 aces) shared much of the setting chores.

Despite a 6-2 deficiency in aces, SDSU maintained the upper hand most other categories, including kills (53-42), digs (64-60) and the aforementioned team blocks (17.0 to 12.0).

As a result of the latter statistic, neither side hit well on Tuesday, as the host school mustered a .197 efficiency, its lowest of the 2024 campaign thus far. However, the SDSU defense limited UNLV to a .063 clip, its worst of the season and lowest percentage by an Aztec opponent this year.

Still, the Scarlet and Black found itself on the wrong side of an 18-16 score in the first set following a solo block by the Rebels’ Rheanna Deen-Jackson and a kill by Gabrielle Arretche-Ramos. However, after a much-needed timeout, SDSU quickly turned the tables with a 9-1 blitz to seize the early momentum. Underwood blasted a pair of kills down the stretch and combined with Cooper on consecutive blocks for the final two points to stun the visitors.

After five early ties and two lead changes in the second stanza, the Aztec vaulted in front to stay at 11-9 on another Underwood put-away and a UNLV attack error. SDSU methodically gave itself some separation on the scoreboard, building a seven-point bulge at 24-17 thanks to three consecutive Underwood kills, while Davis floored a shot moments later for the clinching point.

The teams battled through nine tie scores and four lead changes in a highly competitive third set that saw the Rebels craft a seemingly comfortable late 23-20 advantage courtesy of a Dakota Quinlan kill. The Aztecs responded with three straight points to forge a 23-23 deadlock after consecutive put-aways by Underwood and Hughes followed by an errant UNLV attack. However, the SDSU comeback was derailed thanks to another Quinlan kill, while the Aztecs’ ensuing shot went awry, sending the match into a fourth frame.

SDSU saved its best for last, totaling seven blocks in that final set, where the Rebels managed just seven kills against nine attack errors for a minus-.065 hitting percentage. Rubright collected five rejections alone in that span, including a pair of solo stops.

Clinging to a slim 19-18 advantage, the Aztecs closed with another timely 6-1 rush to secure the match. Underwood’s kill sparked the run, while Rubright followed with consecutive blocks, including a joint effort with Cara Braun, before Campos served up an ace. The teams soon exchanged attack errors before Rubright aptly provided the proverbial dagger with a final kill from the middle.

Quinlan (12 kills, 14 digs) and Olivia Mikkelsen (15 assists, 10 digs) each completed a double-double for UNLV, while Jordyn Freeman finished with 10 put-aways and hit .562 in the loss. In addition, Deen-Jackson totaled eight blocks, including a pair of solo efforts, while Kody Wengler tied SDSU’s Davis with 17 digs.

San Diego State opens the second half of its Mountain West schedule on Thursday, Oct. 24, when it travels to the Gem State to face Boise State at Bronco Gym. Match time is slated for 6 p.m. MT/5 p.m. PT.