San Jose State Tops the Aztecs in Volleyball

The No. 8-ranked San Diego State women’s volleyball team turned back seven match points Saturday, but it wasn’t enough to overcome No. 4-ranked San Jose State in a nonconference match in Peterson Gym.

The Spartans, by hanging on to win in five games, 15-10, 7-15, 10-15, 15-4, 15-12, improved to 11-2. SDSU, which had a seven-match winning streak snapped, fell to 14-3.

After falling behind two games to one, the Spartans rallied behind the play of outside hitters Lisa Ice (28 kills) and Christa Cook (26 kills).

In the fifth game, San Jose State jumped in front, 7-0, and upped its margin to 14-8 on a block by Maria Healy. SDSU rallied behind middle blocker Renee Pankopf and closed to within 14-12 on a service winner by Sally Larsen. Finally, on their eighth attempt to win, the Spartans closed out the match when Pankopf scrambled for a loose ball but spiked it wide.

“If we learned anything, I hope we learned that when things start going bad, you have to get together quicker,” Aztec Coach Rudy Suwara said. “When things started going bad for us in the fourth game and early in the fifth game, we couldn’t turn the tide in time.”

Sharon O’Connell had 15 kills and 6 blocks and Loreece Porter had 14 kills to lead Nevada-Reno to a 5-15, 15-11, 15-8, 10-15, 15-11 West Coast Athletic Conference win over U.S. International University at Reno Staurday night. The Wolf Pack is 2-0 in conference and 4-8 overall. USIU falls to 0-2, 3-8.