The doors of Peterson Gym opened up for another season of volleyball last weekend as the Aztecs returned to their home court for the annual Holiday Inn Mission Valley Aztec Invitational.
San Diego State played on the Aztec Court on Friday in front of a packed stand of 357 fans, as it downed Harvard University in four sets (25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-15).
Three Aztecs reached double figures in kills, lead by junior outside hitter Michelle Waber with a career-high 18, while senior outside hitter Summer Nash added 15 and senior middle blocker Emily Harris added 14. Waber and Harris also contributed three blocks each and Nash tied a career-high three service aces.
Senior setter Johnna Fouch continued her impressive start to the season adding another double-double to her resume. Fouch’s season total was brought to five in seven matches as she recorded 49 assists and 12 digs.
Northeastern University proved to be a difficult match up for SDSU on Saturday. After winning the first two sets, the Aztecs struggled to hold on to their promising start as the Huskies fought back to take the final three. The final set scores were 25-18, 25-22, 17-25, 19-25 and 14-16.
This marked the fourth time in nine matches that SDSU has played to five sets, and the Aztecs have only come out on top once.
Nash had another standout match of the young season as she tied her career-high with 21 kills, and recorded 13 digs. Accompanying Nash, three other Aztecs met double figures in blocks. Senior libero Courtney Vaccarello also added 13 digs while senior defensive specialists Justine Ricigliano contributed 12 and Fouch with 10.
In its final match, SDSU handed the University of San Francisco its only loss of the tournament as the Dons fell to the Aztecs in three sets (26-24, 25-17, 25-18). The victory moves the Aztecs to 5-4 on the season.
Harris led the Aztecs with 11 kills and eight blocks, a performance that earned her all-tournament honors. Harris finished the weekend ahead of all tournament players with an average of 1.42 blocks and 2.83 digs per set and a .429 hitting percentage. Teammates Nash and Waber joined Harris on the all-tournament list.
USF was the only team to play four matches throughout the course of the weekend, winning its first three before falling to SDSU late Saturday night. Northeastern, Harvard and Southern Methodist University all finished the tournament winning one game apiece and losing two.
SDSU concludes its nonconference play at 7 p.m. tomorrow, as it travels across town to meet the University of San Diego.
