It was a difficult weekend for the San Diego State women’s volleyball team, which fell to the University of Wyoming and No. 12 Colorado State University on the Aztec Court. The Aztecs move to 4-4 in conference play and 9-9 overall.
Last Thursday the Aztecs took on the Cowgirls. A slow start and 34 team errors, compared to Wyoming’s 18, resulted in a 3-1 set loss (25-15, 25-22, 21-25, 25-22).
Wyoming jumped to an early 11-4 lead in the first set, and they didn’t let up for the rest of it.
The second set looked to be more promising for the Aztecs as they pulled away to a 6-1 lead before the Cowgirls caught up to tie the set at 10. Three straight points by SDSU were answered by six from Wyoming as the Cowgirls went on to take the set.
The Aztecs fought back from behind in the third set to take the lead at 7-6. From there SDSU pulled further ahead to eventually take the set. A strong fourth set from Wyoming gave them the set and confirmed their victory.
Three Aztecs met double figures in kills, lead by junior right side hitter Chaiymin Steel with 12 while adding three blocks, two digs and a service ace. Senior middle blocker Emily Harris and senior outside hitter Summer Nash had 10 kills each.
Senior libero Courtney Vaccarello led the team with 18 digs, while senior setter Johnna Fouch collected her ninth double-double of the season with 33 assists and 13 digs.
Last Saturday 893 fans packed Peterson Gym to see the Aztecs face conference leaders Colorado State.
After multiple lead changes early on in the opening set, the Aztecs scored three straight points to pull ahead to 10-7. The Rams couldn’t answer, and the Aztecs maintained the lead and took the set 25-19.
The Aztecs pulled ahead early in set two, but this time Colorado State fought back to tie the game at 21. The two teams rallied off one more point each before three straight from the Rams handed them the match, 22-25.
The final two sets saw Colorado State hold on to early leads and take the sets in scores of 25-21 and 25-17 to win the match and remain undefeated.
Preseason all-Mountain West pick, senior outside hitter Raegan Shelton, took to the court for her first full match after breaking her finger early in the season. Shelton lead the team with 11 kills and recorded three digs and a block. Junior outside hitter Michelle Waber also reached double figures in kills with 10.
Defensively, Vaccarello led the Aztecs with 16 blocks while junior setter Chloe Mathis recorded 10 digs and 22 assists.
Tonight, the Aztecs travel to Utah to face conference newcomers Utah State, and to Idaho to play Boise State on Saturday.
Photo by Jordan Owen, Senior Staff Photographer
