Schutt, Miller Help SDSU Roll in Volleyball Tourney

San Diego State lost only one game in four matches en route to winning its ASICS Grand Prix women’s volleyball championship Saturday at Peterson Gym.

After winning twice on Friday, the Aztecs defeated Northwestern, 12-15, 15-2, 15-4, 15-9, in their first match Saturday and needed only a victory over winless Villanova for the title.

SDSU won in three, 15-8, 15-3, 16-14, to finish 4-0. Baylor was second at 3-1, followed by Northwestern (2-2), San Francisco (1-3) and Villanova (0-4).

SDSU’s Gracie Schutt was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Jennifer Miller of SDSU was also named to the all-tournament team along with Northwestern’s Shawn Karey, Villanova’s Becky Kulbago, Baylor’s Cory Sivertson and San Francisco’s Lisa Tachannen.

Schutt had a team-leading 16 kills and 10 digs in the Aztecs’ victory over Northwestern. Kori Ermigarat added 15 kills, Miller 11 kills and a team-high 11 digs, and setter Pam Hope had 36 assists.

In the nightcap, Schutt led SDSU with 15 kills. Stephanie Riley had 10 kills, Miller 11 digs and Hope 25 assists.

The University of San Diego won both its matches on the first day of the Gaucho Classic at UC Santa Barbara. USD swamped Georgia Tech, 15-4, 15-9, 15-9, and rallied to beat Nevada, 5-15, 11-15, 15-8, 15-12, 15-12.

Jennifer Lofftus led the Toreras with eight kills in the Georgia Tech rout and Nikki Wallace and Maria Rickard added seven each. Liz Gunsaulus had 10 digs and setter Shannon Mutch 27 assists.

Against Nevada, Amy McMahon recorded 17 kills. Wallace and Lofftus each had 15. Torril Purvis had 17 digs and Mutch 47 assists.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The University of San Diego couldn’t hold a one-goal lead and lost to visiting UC Santa Barbara, 2-1.

The winning goal was scored by Lisa Ferragamo with 2:36 left. Ferragamo once played for U.S. International but transferred to UCSB in 1991, when USIU discontinued its sports programs.

Kelly Arthur scored USD’s goal at 36:02 of the first half. Gaucho Jeannie Crabb then tied it with a goal at 49:20 of the second half. The Toreras are 0-2 in their first season. UCSB is 2-1.

WATER POLO

Valhalla High alumnus Mike Nalu scored 11 goals to lead UC San Diego to two victories on the first day of the Triton Invitational at Canyonview Pool.

Nalu had six goals in No. 11 UCSD’s first victory over UC Davis, 18-6. He added five goals to lead the Tritons over Navy, 12-7. Nalu had 70 goals as a freshman last season. UCSD is 2-0.

CROSS-COUNTRY

The University of San Diego won both the men’s and women’s divisions in the Loyola Marymount Invitational in Westchester.

Torera Jen McCann won the women’s five-kilometer race in 20 minutes 29 seconds, and Torero Dean Cortez took third in the men’s eight-kilometer race in 27:05.

Also placing for USD were Dean Cortez (third), Brian Holmes (fifth), Matt Young (sixth) and Mike Livingston (seventh) in the men’s race. USD’s Colleen McDonough placed third in the women’s race.