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Aztecs snap five game losing streak; Hannah Turnlund launches match-high 14 kills
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
October 26, 2019 (San Diego) - The San Diego State volleyball team snapped a five-match losing streak Saturday with a 3-0 triumph over Utah State (25-19, 25-20, 25-22) in a Mountain West clash inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym.
The Aztecs maintained a sizable advantage in kills (46-31) and digs (48-27) to help raise their record to 10-11 and 3-7 in conference action, while the Aggies slip to 2-20 overall and 2-8 in the MW.
Despite trailing in team blocks (8.0-4.0) and committing 11 more attack errors (21-10), SDSU served up a season-high 10 aces to defeat Utah State for the fourth straight meeting and the sixth consecutive encounter at Aztec Court.
Individually, Hannah Turnlund led all players with 14 kills, while Tamia Reeves floored 10 shots of her own, finishing with a season-high .714 hitting percentage with no errors on 14 attempts.
In addition, the SDSU cause was bolstered by Camryn Machado, who dished out 41 assists, while Loren Teter scooped up 19 digs, both of which marked team season-highs for a three-set match.
Not to be outdone, the Aztecs’ balanced attack also featured Erin Gillcrist, who contributed eight kills on the afternoon, while Victoria O’Sullivan and Andrea Walker knocked down seven apiece.
Still, SDSU had to overcome an early 6-1 deficit in the opening set after a kill by the Aggies’ Kelle Call and an Aztec attack error.
Unfazed, the Scarlet and Black remained within striking distance for the remainder of the frame before closing with a strong 7-1 blitz, which broke an 18-18 deadlock. Teter served up two of her three aces during that stretch, while O’Sullivan blasted two kills.
The visitors also gave the Aztecs all they could handle in the second stanza as the teams combined for 10 ties and four lead changes. Turnlund launched six kills during the set, including consecutive put-aways to punctuate a solid 9-4 finishing run, which snapped a 16-16 tie.
SDSU appeared to be in control for most of the third frame, building a pair of seven-point leads, including a 21-14 spread following consecutive kills by Turnlund and O’Sullivan.
The Aggies responded with an 8-1 surge to tie the score, thanks in part to Whitney Solosabel, who bookended the run with a kill and two service aces, while Corinne Larsen and Bailey Downing combined on a block.
USU was unable to seize the upper hand, however, as Downing misfired on a subsequent attack. With the Aggies perhaps a little deflated, Machado quickly put an end to the match with a pair of aces, as the Aztec bench erupted in jubilation.
Larsen, who led all players with six total blocks, also added seven kills to tie Izzie Belnap for USU team-high honors, while Downing finished with six put-aways of her own to go with four block assists in the loss.
UP NEXT
San Diego State embarks on its next-to-last road trip of the season next weekend when it travels to New Mexico on Thursday, Oct. 31 before touching down in Sin City to face UNLV on Saturday, Nov. 2.
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