Colorado Springs, Colo.—Despite leading 2-0, the San José State volleyball team needed five sets to come back and defeat Air Force, 3-2 (25-21, 26-24, 21-25, 18-25, 15-12) Thursday night in a Mountain West match at the Academy.
Senior libero Luiza Andrade recorded a team-best 17 digs in the win and moved into second place on the San José State career digs list. She ended the night with 1,428 digs, passing Dawnis Wilson who had 1,412 digs from 1988-91.
For the third consecutive match, Latahevai Lousi led the team in kills with 16, and added four digs and four blocks, one solo and three assists. Two other Spartans recorded double-digit kills – Thaliana Grajeda and Ryann Thomison with 10 kills each.
San José State had a season-best 11 blocks in the win. Thomison led the team with a career-high six blocks, one solo and five assists. Grajeda and Lousi had four blocks each, and Fernanda Vido added three blocks.
The Spartans won the first two sets, 25-21 and 26-24. SJSU hit .314 in the second set and held off two Air Force set points before a Thomison kill and Andrade service ace gave the team the 2-0 lead.
In the third set, the Spartans jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and led 9-6 before the Falcons went on a run and took a 10-9 lead. The set was tied at 18-18 on an Air Force service error, but SJSU could not take the lead as USAFA won 25-21.
SJSU took an early 2-1 lead in the fourth set but did not see another lead as Air Force won 25-18 for force a fifth set.
Air Force jumped out first in the deciding set, 4-1, but the Spartans slowly chipped away at the lead, taking the lead for good at 7-6 on a Vido and Thomison block. Giulia Gávio recorded her eighth kill on the final point of the match for the 15-12 win.
San José State is now 8-9 on the season and 3-5 in the MW. The Spartans return home next week for two matches inside Spartans – Thursday, October 18, against San Diego State at 6 p.m., and Saturday, October 20, versus Fresno State at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the door at $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.
MW Match
Colorado Springs, Colo.
San José State def. Air Force 3-2 – 25-21, 26-24, 21-25, 18-25, 15-12.
Kills – SJSU – Latahevai Lousi 16, Thaliana Grajeda 10, Ryann Thomison 10.
USAFA – Elizabeth Pennington 20, Abigail Miksch 15, Lauren Heldt 10.
Records – San José State 8-9, 3-5; Air Force 12-8, 2-4.
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