Greeley, Colo.—Another season, another tournament trophy for the San José State volleyball team as the Spartans came from behind to defeat Pacific, 3-2 (25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 28-26, 15-9) Saturday to win the Hampton Inn & Suites Northern Colorado Classic.
The Spartans went 3-0 at the tournament with wins over Northern Colorado (3-0), Alabama State (3-0) and Pacific (3-2). Fernanda Vido was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while Caitlin Bettenay and Luiza Andrade were named to the all-tournament team.
Bettenay led the Spartans against Pacific with 16 kills and her first double-double of the season with 13 digs. Vido added 12 kills, five digs, two aces and three blocks. Andrade recorded a team-best 19 digs, six assists and an ace.
San José State won the first set 25-20, but Pacific won the next two sets 25-17 and 25-20, leading from the first serve of each set. In the fourth set, the Tigers jumped out to a 10-5 lead before the Spartans used its own 10-5 run to tie the set at 15-15.
The teams tied the set at 21-21 before Pacific scored the next three points and were at match point at 24-21. The Spartans responded by scoring the next three points including a Mamie Garard service ace to tie the set at 24-24. Pacific again had match point, but a Thaliana Grajeda kill tied the match at 25-25.
Bettenay then gave SJSU its first set point at 26-25 with a kill, but Pacific tied the set at 26-26. San José State then got back-to-back kills from Grajeda and Bettenay to win the fourth set 28-26.
In the deciding set, the Tigers again jumped out to a 6-3 lead before the Spartans tied the match at 6-6 and took the lead for good at 9-8 on a Bettenay kill. Vido secured the win for the Spartans with her 12th kill of the match as SJSU won 15-9.
Other contributing to the Spartan win include Haylee Nelson who hit .529 for the match with 10 kills on 17 attempts and only one hitting error. Garard had 24 assists and six digs, while Kaitlynn Zdroik added 18 assists, six digs and a kill. Grajeda and Ryann Thomison each had four block assists to lead the team.
"I am proud of the way we started the tournament, executing the game plan, and we finished that way," said Spartan head coach Jolene Shepardson. "Our players were able to make some crucial game strategy adjustments in our match today, and we committed to those with attitude. We showed tremendous character after losing the second and third sets and being down in the fourth. I am happy our team came ready to earn wins on the road."
The Spartans take their four-match winning streak to Florida next weekend as the team plays at the Owls Classic hosted by Florida Atlantic on September 14 and 15.
Hampton Inn & Suites Northern Colorado Classic
Greeley, Colo.
San José State def. Pacific 3-2 (25-20, 17-25, 20-25, 28-26, 15-9)
Kills – SJSU – Caitlin Bettenay 16, Fernanda Vido 12, Haylee Nelson 10; UOP – Kaitlyn Limes 28, Riley Patterson 17.
Records – San José State 4-2; Pacific 4-5.
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