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Aztecs’ Kayla Rivera ties season-high with 13 kills
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
November 4, 2022 (San Diego) - The San Diego State volleyball team won its second straight match with a clutch four-set victory (25-19, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21) over Boise State on Thursday in a key Mountain West clash inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
With the win, the Aztecs (7-17, 5-8 MW) climb into a tie for seventh place in the conference standings with New Mexico and Nevada, one match behind the slumping Broncos (14-10, 6-7 MW) and Wyoming, both of whom are tied for fifth, as the top six teams qualify for the MW Championship later this month.
Despite a slight deficiency in team blocks (9.0 to 8.0) and service aces (8-7), SDSU maintained a sizable 55-36 advantage in kills and a 45-27 margin in digs to put the brakes on three-match slide vs. Boise State in the all-time series.
Individually, the Aztecs received an all-round performance from Kayla Rivera, who tied her season high with 13 kills while contributing six blocks assists and a pair of service aces, helping the Scarlet and Black defeat the Broncos at home for the first time since 2017.
In addition, Heipua Tautua’a surpassed the double-digit kill plateau for the fourth consecutive match with 11 non-returnables, while Madison Corf floored nine shots of her own.
Not to be outdone, Elly Schraeder (6 kills) tied her career high with eight block assists to lead all players, while Ellie Geoghegan shoveled up a match-high 21 digs.
Elsewhere, the SDSU attack was set up once again by the combo of Noa Miller (23 assists) and Sarena Gonzalez (15 assists).
The Aztecs swung into high gear in the opening set, recording a 16-9 advantage in kills to help take command. Tautua’a launched five her non-returnables in the frame, while Corf, Rivera and Mikela Labno chipped in three put-aways each.
With the score knotted at 12-12, SDSU received kills by Schraeder and Rivera sandwiched around a Geoghegan service ace to take the lead for good.
The Broncos trimmed the margin to one on three occasions, including a 20-19 spread following a Lauren Ohlinger put-away. However, the Aztecs rose to the challenge with five straight points to ice the set. Tautua’a took matters into her own hands with three kills in the span, including the clincher, while Labno added another following a Julia Haynie service ace.
Rivera assumed the spotlight in the second stanza, hitting .571 for the set after blasting five kills on seven attempts with just one error, while Corf and Tautua’a powered down three shots each. In all, SDSU logged its best efficiency of the night, hitting at a .417 clip on 15 kills in 24 swings against five errors.
Still, the teams battled through 10 ties in the frame before the Aztecs nudged in front to stay after a Labno kill and an ace by Corf. A wayward serve on the next point temporarily stalled the Scarlet and Black momentum, but a hot smash by Tautua’a was blocked out of bounds moments later, giving the host school a 2-0 advantage in sets.
SDSU had visions of a sweep, and that result seemed primed for the taking after the Aztecs stormed to an early 5-1 lead. Schraeder bookended the run with joint blocks, teaming with Rivera and Corf, respectively, while Miller served up an ace and added a kill on dump shot.
However, the visitors fought themselves off the ropes with a timely 10-1 run, featuring three consecutive aces by Allison Casillas, while Paige Bartsch knocked down two kills and combined with Annie Kaminski on a block.
Stung, SDSU battled back to forge a pair of ties, including a 15-15 deadlock following a Rivera kill. However, the Broncos kept the hosts at bay with another key 6-0 run, aided by several Aztec miscues, including two errant attacks and a bad set, while Bartsch joined forces with Jet Taylor on a block before an Ohlinger ace.
San Diego State narrowed the gap to 23-20 on a pair of kills by Haynie but could draw no closer.
After mustering just ninth kills in the previous set, the Aztecs turned the tables in the fourth stanza, maintaining a 15-7 advantage in that category to help secure the victory. The Scarlet and Black limited the Broncos to a paltry .080 hitting percentage, as the visitors committed six errors in 26 attempts.
Rivera regained her magic with four kills in the final set, hitting at a .571 pace once again after seven swings without an error.
After building a pair of early five-point leads, including a 10-5 advantage on a Jordyn Goldsmith kill, SDSU experienced a reversal of fortune, as Boise State responded with a 4-0 run, keyed by a pair of combined blocks from Taylor and Jordan Miller.
Moments later, the Aztecs seemingly seized control with an 8-1 blitz, as Rivera teamed with Schraeder on another block before blasting a kill to give the hosts a comfortable 18-10 lead.
However, the Broncos would not go quietly after twice trimming the margin to two, including a 23-21 spread following a Jordan Miller kill. Boise State’s comeback hopes promptly died with an errant serve on the next point, while Corf returned the favor with an ace to seal the victory, as the SDSU bench rushed the court to celebrate.
Despite match highs from Bartsch (17 kills), Casillas (4 aces) and Elle Cotton (29 assists), along with Taylor’s six block assists, the Broncos were still saddled with their fourth straight defeat.
San Diego State looks to keep things rolling on Saturday, continuing its homestand with a showdown vs. Utah State at 1 p.m. The fourth-place Aggies (16-8, 8-5 MW) swept Fresno State on the road Thursday night.
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