SAN DIEGO — San Diego State and the University of San Diego entered Saturday night with one final opportunity to prepare for conference play.
For the Aztecs, that means the beginning of a new era in the Pac-12. For the Toreros, it means an opportunity to build another run through the West Coast Conference.
But before turning their attention to league opponents, the two San Diego rivals met at Jenny Craig Pavilion, where USD came away with a four-set victory, 25-20, 22-25, 25-16, 25-15.
The win gave the Toreros their fifth consecutive victory over SDSU and extended USD's home winning streak against the Aztecs, who have not won at Jenny Craig Pavilion since 2003. USD now holds a 36-24 advantage in the all-time series.
Both programs finished their nonconference schedules at 5-5.
USD controlled much of the match statistically, finishing with a 50-40 advantage in kills while hitting .280 compared with SDSU's .075. The largest difference, however, came at the net, where the Toreros out-blocked the Aztecs 15-3.
Kierstyn Barton led the Toreros with 18 kills, while freshman Emma Brewer made an impact in her first start since the season opener. Brewer recorded 13 kills and 14 digs for a double-double, while Nemo Beach added 10 kills. The trio combined for 41 of USD's 50 kills.
Emma Brewer. Credit: USD Athletics
Meghan Scholz anchored USD's blocking effort with nine total blocks, the most by a Torero in a match this season. Brewer and BayLea Sparks each added five as the Toreros increasingly took control at the net.
USD jumped ahead early in the opening set, building an 8-2 advantage and forcing SDSU to play from behind. The Aztecs slowly worked their way back, cutting the deficit to 20-18 behind consecutive kills from Layla Austin and Taelyn Bentley, but the Toreros responded out of a timeout and closed out the frame 25-20.
SDSU's strongest stretch came late in the second set.
Trailing 19-15, the Aztecs flipped the momentum with a 10-3 run to steal the frame 25-22 and even the match. Mila Gehlen powered the comeback, recording six kills on six attempts during the closing stretch, including the set-clinching point. SDSU hit .275 in the frame with 17 kills, its best offensive set of the night.
The momentum did not carry into the third.
USD opened the frame with a 5-0 run, and although SDSU eventually cut the deficit to 8-7, the Toreros responded. Beach and Barton helped stretch the advantage before USD pulled away for a 25-16 win and a 2-1 match lead.
The Toreros' block then slammed the door in the fourth.
USD recorded seven team blocks in the final set alone as SDSU struggled to establish a consistent attack. Sparks recorded four blocks in the frame, including three solo stops, helping the Toreros cruise to a 25-15 finish.
No Aztec reached double-digit kills for just the second time this season. Gehlen, Austin and Ella Schabort shared the team lead with eight kills apiece. Kendall Mairs recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 20 assists and 12 digs, while Zara Stewart paced SDSU defensively with 16 digs. Logan Cary also contributed season highs of 15 assists and seven digs.
Kendall Mairs sets the ball for the slide. Natalie Tullar/@nstphotography_
Conference play begins
With the San Diego rivalry matchup behind them, both teams now turn toward conference play and considerably different challenges.
For SDSU, Thursday marks a historic first.
The Aztecs will officially begin their inaugural Pac-12 volleyball season on Sept. 24 when they travel to Colorado State before continuing the road trip at Fresno State on Sept. 26.
The move into conference play gives SDSU its first opportunity to see how the program stacks up in its new league after a nonconference schedule that ended at .500.
USD, meanwhile, returns to Jenny Craig Pavilion on Thursday to begin WCC play against Saint Mary's. The Toreros enter conference play with some momentum after closing their nonconference schedule with consecutive home wins over Arizona and SDSU.
After last season's historic 25-5 campaign and perfect 18-0 run through WCC play, the Toreros will now turn their attention toward trying to put together another conference run and another trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Top photo credit: Natalie Tullar/@nstphotography_
