Printer-friendly version
Aztecs erase 2-0 deficit to finish season sweep of Lobos
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
November 10, 2018 (Albuquerque) - The San Diego State volleyball team erased a 2-0 deficit in a five-set match (17-25, 23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 15-8) against New Mexico at Johnson Center on Saturday afternoon. SDSU, which concluded its 2018 road schedule today, finishes a season sweep of New Mexico with today's win.
SDSU improves to 7-9 in the Mountain West, while New Mexico evens its league mark to 8-8 with the loss.
Ashlynn Dunbar and Deja Harris led the way for the Aztecs, logging 19 and 17 kills, respectively. Loren Teter led the defense with 16 digs, while Deja Harris (eight blocks), Tamia Reeves (eight blocks) and Erin Gillcrist (seven blocks) pushed the Aztecs to win the battle at the net, out-blocking the Lobos 16-9.
SDSU posted just a .097 hitting percentage over the first pair of sets allowing UNM to take a 2-0 lead. After dropping the first set, 25-17, SDSU inched its way closer in the second set and out-hit the Lobos, .186 - .146, but fell in the set 25-23.
The Aztecs began their comeback attempt in a third set that was controlled by Dunbar and Harris, as the duo led all players in the match with six third-set kills each.
After Hannah Turnlund tied the set at 20-20 with her second kill of the third set, SDSU took control of the set, going on a 5-1 run capped by Harris' sixth kill of the game to win the set, 25-21. As a team, the Aztecs hit .324 in the third set.
New Mexico had match point in the fourth set, owning a 24-22 lead, but a Sabrina Bianco service error provided the Aztecs with a one-point deficit at 24-23. From there, a pair of Lobo attack errors gave SDSU a 25-24 lead, just before Harris sealed the win and tied the match at 2-2 with her 14th kill of the match.
The Aztecs limited the Lobos to a -.083 hitting percentage in the fifth set, allowing SDSU to cruise to a match-clinching 15-8 fifth-set win. With SDSU hanging on to a slim 7-6 lead, the Aztecs created some much-needed breathing room with a 6-0 run that included five Lobo attack errors. Harris finished the set with her 17th kill coming off a feed from Delaney Taylor, who recorded her 29th assist in the match-clinching point.
Harris (three kills), Dunbar (two kills) and Turnlund (two kills) combined for all seven of SDSU's fifth-set kills.
Taylor and Gabi Peoples shared setter duties against the Lobos, recording 29 and 21 assists, respectively. Turnlund finished one kill shy of a double double, recording nine kills and 10 digs.
NOTES
- Today's win marks as the first time since Nov. 27, 2013, at Colorado State that SDSU has erased a 2-0 deficit in a true road match. SDSU's last time erasing a 2-0 deficit came last season when the Aztecs rallied to beat Boise State at home in five sets on Oct. 19, 2017.
- SDSU is 6-1 in its last seven matches against New Mexico.
- SDSU's win in the third set snapped a streak of 11 consecutive road sets lost.
UP NEXT
SDSU awaits the final week of the 2018 season, hosting Nevada on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. before finishing the season against San Jose State on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
Recent comments