Logan, Utah— The Spartan volleyball team needed a big comeback in set two and had to come back after losing the third set as San José State defeated Utah State, 3-1, Thursday evening in a Mountain West match in Logan.
The Spartans won the first set 25-22, not needing to make a comeback per se, but taking the lead for good at 9-8 on a Caitlin Bettenay kill. The Aggies got as close as one point at 20-19 and 21-20, but San José State never gave the lead back as the team's final two points were a Mamie Garard kill and a Aggie hitting error.
Set two was a much different story for San José State. The team fell behind early as Utah State forced SJSU to take timeouts at 9-4 and 14-8. The Aggies led by six again at 16-10 before the Spartans scored five consecutive points with Kaitlynn Zdroik serving to close the gap to 16-15.
San José State continued to battle in set two, trailing 20-17, before a Ryann Thomison kill started a Spartan scoring streak. Thomison's kill made the score 20-18, and two consecutive SJSU points forced Utah State to take a timeout at 20-20. With Luiza Andrade serving, the team scored four more points to get to set point at 24-20. The Aggies got a kill to cut the set to 24-21 before another Bettenay kill gave SJSU the 25-21 set win.
In the third set, the two teams traded the lead three times and had nine tied scores. The Spartans led 13-10 before Utah State scored seven consecutive points to take a 17-13 lead en route to a 25-21 win.
The Spartans then came back on the floor for the fourth set and took an immediate 4-1 lead. Utah State used a small run to take a 6-5 lead, but San José State retook the lead at 7-6 on a Thaliana Grajeda and Giulia Gávio block. Up 14-13, San Jose State scored eight consecutive points, seven while Zdroik was serving, to open up the set and won the set 25-20 on another Bettenay kill.
Four Spartans recorded double-digit kills in the win – Bettenay and Haylee Nelson with 12 each, Fernanda Vido with 11 and Latahevai Lousi with 10. Bettenay recorded her third double-double of the season with 18 digs to go with her 12 kills.
Luiza Andrade led team with 19 digs, while Kaitlynn Zdroik recorded a career-best five service aces to go with 29 assists and six digs. Mamie Garard had 20 assists, seven digs and two kills.
Lousi, Grajeda and Thomison each recorded four blocks in the win.
San José State improves to 10-10 on the season and 5-6 in the MW. The team plays at Boise State Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT.
MW Match
Logan, Utah
San José State def. Utah State – 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20)
Kills – SJSU – Caitlin Bettenay 12, Haylee Nelson 12, Fernanda Vido 11, Latahevai Lousi 10.
USU – Bailey Downing 14, Whitney Solosabal 10.
Records – San José State 10-10, 5-6; Utah State 4-18, 2-9.
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