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Aztec freshman Madison Corf logs first career double-double
The Aztecs blasted as many kills as their guests (43-43) but were plagued by 19 attack errors, seven of which were the result of Ram blocks, to fall to 4-15 on the season and 2-6 in conference play.
SDSU was paced by Corf’s performance, which featured 15 kills, 11 digs and one service ace, while Kayla Rivera powered down nine shots, followed by Mikela Labno’s eight put-aways.
Labno hit .304 for the afternoon, committing one error in 23 attempts and registered a pair of blocks, including a solo stuff, while Ellie Geoghegan provided ample support along the back row with a match-high 14 digs.
Elsewhere, Noa Miller (20 assists, 2 aces) and Sarena Gonzalez (16 assists) shared the setting duties, while Julia Haynie contributed five kills in the middle.
The Aztecs maintained a 41-36 advantage in team digs but nine errant serves also contributed to their undoing in a fifth consecutive loss.
Conversely, CSU (14-5, 7-1 MW) totaled just nine attack errors, out-hitting the Scarlet and Black .347 to .224 for the day while maintaining the edge in team blocks (7.0 to 4.0).
Individually, the Rams countered with the duo of Malaya Jones (16) and Annie Sullivan (10), who surpassed the double-digit kill plateau, while Kennedy Stanford launched eight put-aways of her own to go with eight digs and a pair of aces.
Jones committed just one error on 28 swings for a .536 efficiency, while Stanford finished without a miscue in 25 attempts for a .320 clip.
In addition, Ciera Pritchard led all players with 34 assists and tied Karina Leber for match-high honors with four blocks, while Kate Yoshimoto scooped up seven digs.
The teams slugged it out through a high-powered opening set with the teams combining for 30 kills, including 16 by CSU, which hit .467 for the frame, totaling just two errors in 30 swings.
Despite four kills apiece from Corf and Rivera, the Aztecs never led in the set as the visitors benefited from six attack errors and a pair of errant serves.
SDSU crept to within 22-20 after Rivera and Haynie floored consecutive shots, but the Rams closed with a 3-1 spurt, as Sullivan and Jones bookended the run with kills, with the latter joining forces with Naeemah Weathers on a block in the interim.
The teams combined for six ties and three lead changes in the second stanza, where the Aztecs nursed a slim 15-13 lead following a CSU service error. However, the Rams responded with three consecutive kills by Jones after an SDSU attack error to vault in front for good.
Moments later, Jordyn Goldsmith powered down a non-returnable shot, but it wasn’t enough to stem the tide. Leading 17-16, CSU closed with an 8-5 run to thwart the Aztecs’ comeback hopes.
Despite three kills from Corf down the stretch, the Rams received two put-aways from Sullivan, while Leber and Stanford combined on a block, with the latter supplying the clinching point with a kill.
Undaunted, SDSU battled through another nip-and-tuck third set, where the sides witnessed 10 ties and four lead changes. Labno and Corf led the Aztecs with four kills apiece, while Miller spun two aces on consecutive serves.
With the score deadlocked at 15-15, Jones and Sullivan launched two kills apiece to ignite a 5-1 surge that put CSU in front 20-16.
Moments later, Labno floored a shot and joined forces with Kat Cooper on a block to trim the margin to 20-19. An errant serve and a Jones kill afforded the Rams a three-point cushion. However, Goldsmith followed with a kill and Miller served up her two aforementioned aces to knot the score at 22-22.
CSU subsequently escaped with the sweep thanks to a pair of points on Aztec miscues, an errant serve and a wayward attack, while Ruby Kayser squeezed out an ace in the meantime.
San Diego State will be back in action next week, splitting a pair of matches with a road clash at New Mexico on Thursday, Oct. 20, followed by a home date vs. Air Force on Saturday, Oct. 22.
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