Matt FitzGerald

There was a different feeling inside Peterson Gym last weekend. The San Diego State women’s volleyball team experienced something that has been eluding it all season – a weekend sweep. It wasn’t just the fact SDSU (3-17, 3-4) knocked off both New Mexico and Air Force, but it was also that both wins were shutout victories. The Aztecs defeated New Mexico Friday night 3-0 (34-32, 30-15, 30-26) and then Air Force the following night 3-0 (30-20, 30-23, 30-27).”We’re gaining confidence and we’ve really been coming together,” junior outside hitter Ashley Bowker said. “The time finally came where we could show and prove that. We didn’t make any crucial mistakes at the end of the game like we had been in the past.”The closest game of the weekend was also the opening game of the two matches. After SDSU took an early lead in game one, the Lobos (7-10, 1-5) would go on a six-point run to take a 14-13 lead. The lead would change hands four times as the two squads battled back and forth, until New Mexico took a 31-30 lead. On the brink of losing the first game of the night, the Aztecs managed to escape with the win.”That win was huge. The fact that it was going back and forth like that really helped give us the momentum,” junior outside hitter Melissa Stapley said. “That really boosted our confidence. First game wins are always important.”Stapley had 12 kills for the match, one of three Aztecs to hit double figures in kills. Senior outside hitter Kara Moriarty also had 12 kills and sophomore right side hitter Audra Dent had 10 of her own.Losing the first game seemed to demoralize the Lobos as SDSU didn’t have much trouble in winning the next two.With their confidence and momentum riding high into the next night, the Aztecs didn’t let up one bit against last place Air Force (4-13, 0-7). SDSU easily won the first two games of the night and was able to come away with the third game win, despite taking out some of the starters and letting a few of the girls play off the bench.Moriarty led the Aztecs with 10 kills on the night. She also had six digs and a hitting percentage of .263.”If we had Kara the whole time, I think we would have won two or three times as many matches as we have, but we didn’t, so we have to deal with that,” head coach Mark Warner said. “They keep getting better and I was pleased with their performance tonight.”