SEATTLE – Two matches into San Diego State’s first season as a member of the Pac-12, the Aztecs are already getting a taste of the level of competition they will need to navigate this fall.
SDSU suffered its first loss of the season Saturday, falling to Washington in straight sets, 25-17, 26-24, 25-20, at Alaska Airlines Arena during the Husky Invitational.
The loss moved the Aztecs to 1-1 after opening the tournament with a 3-1 win over IU Indianapolis on Friday. While Saturday’s result halted SDSU’s undefeated start, the matchup against an established Big Ten program provided an early test for a team preparing for a significant step up in conference competition.
Washington carries plenty of national pedigree. The Huskies won the 2005 national championship and have retained a recognizable program nationally, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2024. Washington also plays in the Big Ten, one of the deepest volleyball conferences in the country.
For SDSU, that made Saturday an opportunity to see how its new-look roster responded against a program accustomed to playing high-level competition
The difference showed early.
Washington raced out to an 8-0 advantage in the opening set before freshman Layla Austin finally put the Aztecs on the board with a kill. SDSU struggled to overcome the early deficit despite beginning to find more offense later in the frame, eventually dropping the opener 25-17.
The Aztecs finished the first set with 11 kills and eight attacking errors while hitting .088. Washington, meanwhile, hit .314 with 14 kills and only three errors.
But the second set provided a much better glimpse of what SDSU could become.
After falling behind 3-0, the Aztecs gradually worked their way back into the set. Zara Stewart’s service ace gave SDSU its first lead at 10-9, and the teams continued trading points from there. Ella Schabort helped SDSU create some separation late, recording a kill and an ace during a stretch that pushed the Aztecs ahead 19-16.
SDSU eventually held a 22-19 advantage and had an opportunity to even the match, but Washington responded. The Huskies tied the set at 22 before the teams traded points down the stretch. Tessa Schouten’s kill fought off Washington’s first set point and tied the score at 24, but consecutive kills from Kylie Kleckner and Julia Hunt gave the Huskies a 26-24 victory.
It was easily SDSU’s strongest stretch of the afternoon. The second set featured 10 ties and four lead changes, compared with no lead changes in either the first or third sets.
Washington regained control in the third.
The Aztecs stayed within striking distance early and tied the set at 8 before the Huskies began pulling away. Washington eventually built a 19-12 advantage behind a front line that caused problems for SDSU throughout the match.
Still, SDSU did not go quietly. The Aztecs fought off three match points, with Austin and Mila Gehlen contributing kills before an SDSU block narrowed the deficit to 24-20. Hunt finally closed the match with a kill to secure the sweep.
Washington’s advantage at the net proved to be one of the biggest differences. The Huskies finished with 46 kills and a .298 hitting percentage compared with 29 kills and a .095 clip for SDSU. Washington also held a 13-5 advantage in team blocks.
Yet even in the loss, several Aztecs offered reasons to keep watching as the season develops.
Schabort delivered perhaps the most complete performance. The outside hitter led SDSU with seven kills while hitting .176 and added six digs, two service aces and a block assist. Her 9.5 points were a team high.
Middle blocker Taelyn Bently was one of SDSU’s most efficient attackers, finishing with five kills on 11 swings and just one error for a .364 hitting percentage. She also contributed two digs and a block assist.
Gehlen added six kills while hitting .286, including four kills without an error in the third set as SDSU attempted to extend the match.
Setter Kendall Mairs continued to run the Aztecs’ offense, totaling 24 assists, five digs and one service ace. Libero Stewart anchored the back row with a team-high nine digs while adding an ace of her own.
Those individual performances could become increasingly important as SDSU moves toward Pac-12 play.
Saturday was only the Aztecs’ second match of the year, and the contrast between their opening sweep and their first loss offered an immediate reminder of how much tougher the road can become. Washington was able to pressure SDSU both offensively and at the net, but the Aztecs’ second-set performance also showed they could push an established Big Ten opponent when their offense settled in.
For a team entering a new conference with plenty still to learn about itself, that may be one of the more useful takeaways from an August loss.
The Aztecs had little time to dwell on it and bounced back.
SDSU closed the Husky Invitational on Sunday against UC Irvine with a sweep to leave Seattle with a winning record. Austin led the way for the Aztecs against the Anteaters with 18 kills and one error on 29 attempts.
The Aztecs now head to Davis for the UC Davis Tournament, taking on the Aggies Thursday at 6 p.m. followed by Cal Poly the next day at 1 p.m.
Top photo: SDSU Athletics.
