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Hannah Turnlund recorded team-bests in kills and hitting percentage
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
September 23, 2018 (Colorado Springs, Colo.) - The San Diego State volleyball team dropped a three-set (21-25, 20-25, 25-27) match against Air Force on Sunday at Cadet East Gym to wrap up the first weekend of Mountain West play.
In a defensive-focused first set, the Aztecs chipped away at an early 9-2 Falcons lead, eventually cutting Air Force’s lead to just two after Deja Harris logged the second of her four first-set kills of the set to bring the score to 19-17. Unfortunately for SDSU, Air Force used a pair of late-set service aces to add some insurance and eventually claim the set, 25-21. Both defenses shined in the first set, with Air Force narrowly outhitting the Aztecs .105 - .098 in the match opener. Sam McGrath led the defensive charge with nine first-set digs.
Hannah Turnlund recorded five kills on nine swings in the second set, however Air Force flipped the script on their offensive woes in the second set, using a .433 hitting percentage to eventually take a 2-0 lead. After the Falcons took a 6-5 lead early in the set, Air Force used its offensive success to not allow another tie or lead change and eventually took the set, 25-20. McGrath was once again the defensive catalyst for the Aztecs, recording another eye-catching nine digs in the second set.
An early 5-1 run gave SDSU its largest lead of the third set at 10-6, but after the Falcons called a timeout, Air Force rallied for an 8-4 run to tie the match at 14-14. The teams continued to go back-and-forth through the middle portion of the set, but with the game knotted at 25-25 after Ashlynn Dunbar recorded her fourth kill of the day, Air Force used a Denise Ssozi kill and an Alex King service ace to claim the game 27-25 and finish the match in three sets.
Turnlund provided SDSU with its brightest offensive performance, recording a match-high 12 kills with a team-best .323 hitting percentage. McGrath finished her busy day with 22 digs – tied for the most by an Aztec this season – while in her second match of the season, Gabi Peoples recorded a match-high 32 assists.
NOTE
- SDSU falls to 11-5 in its last 16 matches against Air Force.
UP NEXT
SDSU begins a three-match homestand on Thursday, hosting Colorado State at 6:00 p.m. at Peterson Gym.
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