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Aztecs post first whitewash in Fresno since 1996
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
September 27, 2022 (Fresno) -The San Diego State volleyball team posted its first road sweep over Fresno State since 1996 with a 3-0 whitewash (25-18, 25-21, 25-21) of the Bulldogs in a Mountain West match Tuesday night at Save Mart Center.
The Aztecs (4-10, 2-1 MW) received 12 kills from Mikela Labno, while McKenna Douglas served up a career-high five aces to help the Scarlet and Black win its second straight and hand Fresno State (6-9, 0-3 MW) its third consecutive defeat.
Collectively, SDSU recorded its highest hitting percentage of the 2022 campaign (.349), maintaining a 42-38 advantage in kills to go with a season-best 10 service aces to help spark its victory.
In addition to Labno’s production, the Aztecs received nine kills and two block assists from Kayla Rivera, while Julia Haynie hit.636 for the evening after launching seven non-returnables of her own in 11 attempts without an error.
Elly Schraeder also displayed a .444 efficiency, flooring six shots in nine swings with just two miscues, while Douglas and Ellie Geoghegan finished with five digs apiece, as SDSU owned a 27-22 in that statistical category.
The Aztecs posted their best hitting percentage of the match in the opening set, notching a .379 clip on 17 kills in 29 swings with just six errors. SDSU flashed its balance offensively, with Rivera blasting four kills in the frame, while Labno, Haynie and Schraeder provided three apiece.
Still, the teams battled through nine ties and four lead changes in the early going before the Scarlet and Black tallied four straight points to break a 12-12 deadlock and vault in front for good. Rivera launched two kills sandwiched around a Madison Corf put-away, while Douglas capped the run with an ace.
The Bulldogs never crept closer than three points the rest of the way after an Addison Haluska kill narrowed the gap to 19-16. However, the Aztecs kept the host school at bay, as Schraeder powered down a kill and combined with Labno on a block, while Labno and Rivera ultimately provided the clinching points with back-to-back put-aways.
The second set was another closely contested affair as the two sides witnessed six ties and a pair of lead changes. With the score tied at 13-13, however, SDSU fashioned another timely 6-0 blitz to seize control. Douglas twirled two aces during that stretch and Rivera launched a kill, while the Aztecs benefited from a trio of attack errors.
Moments later, Fresno State responded with an 8-3 surge to trim the margin to one at 22-21. Ella Rud bookended the run with kill and a service ace, but the host school could not gain the upper hand. However, SDSU withstood the challenge thanks to a pair of late put-aways by Labno sandwiched around another non-returnable in the middle by Schraeder.
Despite posting just 12 kills in the third set, the Aztecs never trailed in that final frame, benefiting from seven Bulldog attack errors while serving up four aces. Clinging to a slim 13-12 lead, SDSU crafted a key 7-2 run to give itself some much-needed breathing room at 20-14. Haynie provided the offensive spark with a pair of kills, while Douglas and Sarena Gonzalez each contributed an ace in that span.
Fresno State threw one last scare into the visitors thanks to the exploits of Rud, who blasted three kills during a 7-3 outburst that narrowed the gap to 23-21. However, a Labno kill and a Bulldog attack error gave the Aztecs their final two points to ice the victory.
Rud led all players with 16 kills, while Kasey Purry finished with four block assists in the defeat.
San Diego State returns to action this weekend for its first match outside the Golden State this season when it ventures to Las Vegas to battle UNLV at Cox Pavilion. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
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