Aztecs Sweep Fresno State on Senior Day; Clinch Spot in MW Tourney
With its postseason chances hanging in the balance, the San Diego State volleyball team came through with a huge 3-0 sweep over Fresno State (25-13, 25-21, 25-21) to highlight Senior Day festivities on Saturday inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
SAN DIEGO – With its postseason chances hanging in the balance, the San Diego State volleyball team came through with a huge 3-0 sweep over Fresno State (25-13, 25-21, 25-21) to highlight Senior Day festivities on Saturday inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
With the victory and coupled with San José State’s 3-0 loss at UNLV, the Aztecs (14-15, 9-9 MW) secured the final spot in the 2025 Mountain West Championship, set for Nov. 26-29 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sixth-seeded SDSU with face No. 3 seed Wyoming in the first round on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. PT.
Against the Bulldogs on Saturday, the Aztecs posted their second-highest hitting percentage of the year with a .359 clip, knocking down 55 kills against 13 errors in 117 attempts to complete a season sweep of Fresno State (7-22, 3-15 MW) for the first time since 2022.
Conversely, SDSU limited the Bulldogs to a .176 efficiency, as the visitors mustered just 30 kills in 91 swings with 14 miscues. Despite trailing in team blocks (8.0 to 5.0) and service aces (5-4), the Aztecs maintained a 46-40 edge in digs to help snap a four-match losing streak.
Individually, San Diego State was paced by Madison Corf (.478), who blasted a match-high 14 kills, while Ella Schabort reached double figures with 10 put-aways of her own. The Aztecs balanced attack also featured contributions from Mila Gehlen (9 kills) and Natalie Hughes (8 kills, 3 blocks, .471), while Talea Mitchell floored seven of 10 shots without an error for a sparkling .700 hitting percentage.
Sarena Gonzalez also aided the SDSU cause with a season-high 26 assists, splitting time at the setter position with Bella Jones, who dished out 18 helpers of her own.
Anchoring the Aztec back row was Zara Stewart, who tied for match-high honors with 13 digs, while Gonzalez and Keira Herron totaled eight scoops apiece.
SDSU was never threatened in the opening set, racing to a 12-5 lead after a Hughes kill, which prompted a Fresno State timeout. The break did little to stem the Aztec onslaught, however, as the host school built an insurmountable 23-9 advantage following a Corf termination. Corf hit .800 for the frame, smashing eight kills in 10 swings without an error, while Hughes (.500) and Schabort (.429) launched three non-returnables apiece.
The second stanza was the most competitive of the day, as the teams combined for 11 ties and six lead changes. Trailing 18-16, the Scarlet and Black vaulted into front for good on three consecutive Campbell Hague service aces, which ignited a timely 9-3 closing run. Schabort blasted three kills down the stretch and served up an ace, while Corf powered down a ball for the clinching point.
SDSU saved its best for last in the third frame, posting a stellar .514 efficiency after crushing 22 kills in 37 attempts with just three errors. Hague took center stage in the set, launching five put-aways on six swings without a miscue for a crisp .833 hitting percentage, while Gehlen and Mitchell totaled four kills apiece.
Save for a 1-1 tie, the Aztecs led throughout, crafting a seemingly safe 13-6 advantage following a Mitchell termination and consecutive Bulldog attack errors. However, Fresno State gradually trimmed the deficit, narrowing the gap to 24-21 on a Clara Garcia service ace, an Addison Haluska kill and an SDSU attack error.
However, the Aztecs quickly vanquished any Bulldog hopes of extending the match when Annelise Rising floored a shot, securing the Scarlet and Black’s much-needed victory.
Haluska and Jenna Legault tied for team-high honors with nine kills each, while Mya Sellers finished with five blocks, including a solo effort in the loss for Fresno State.
Prior to Saturday’s clash, San Diego State conducted a special ceremony for its senior class, celebrating the accomplishments of Cara Braun, Madison Corf, Sarena Gonzalez, Keira Herron, Amber Keen and Taylor Underwood.
The Aztecs open the Mountain West Championship in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Nov. 26 vs. Wyoming at The Pavilion on the UNLV campus, starting at 4 p.m. PT. A link to tickets is available online at GoAztecs.com.