USAFA, Colo.—Victory did not come easy for the San José State volleyball team Saturday evening at Air Force. The Spartans had to come from behind in the fourth and fifth sets to win 3-2 over the Falcons (25-19, 10-25, 20-25, 25-23, 16-14).
Serving was a huge factor in the Spartans win Saturday night. Service aces by Latahevai Lousi tied the fifth set at 14-14 and took the lead for good at 15-14, and had a career-best three aces. As a team, the Spartans recorded a season-high seven aces, and Air Force recorded 17 service errors.
The Spartans also had a season-best nine blocks in the match including four solo blocks. Allyson Alden led the team with five blocks, including her first three solo blocks in a Spartan uniform. Lousi added four blocks, while Ryann Thomison recorded three blocks.
Lousi led all Spartan hitters with a season-high 17 kills and hit .312 for the match (17-7-32). Alden hit a season-best .467 with a season-high eight kills on 15 attempts and only one error. Makayla Lewis added season-high 10 kills, while Haylee Nelson had nine kills.
Nelson led the Spartan defense with 17 digs, followed by Sarah Smevog with 13 and Mia Schafer with 10. Schafer had her second double-double of the season with 25 assists to go with her 10 digs.
With the victory, Spartan head coach Trent Kersten recorded his first win as a collegiate head coach. He was named the program's eighth head coach in February of 2020.
Set 1 – The Spartan block came alive in the first set to help the team to a 25-19 win. SJSU recorded five blocks in the set, three by Alden including her first collegiate solo block.
Alden & @haylee_nelson with the roof! Point San José State. Spartans currently lead 16-10 in first set. #SpartanUp pic.twitter.com/ruYOFdSlDm
— SJSU VOLLEYBALL (@SanJoseStateVB) February 14, 2021
Set 2 – A total opposite of the first set, the Falcons dominated the set two, winning 25-10. SJSU hit -.174 with only seven kills but 11 hitting errors.
Set 3 – San José State had a 12-11 lead, but Air Force took the lead for good at 13-12. The Spartans got within two at 22-20 late in the set, but the Falcons scored the final three points for the win.
Set 4 – There was only one lead change in the set, and that came at 21-20 on a Falcon hitting error. The Spartans trailed by as many as four points twice during the set but slowly chipped away at the lead. Thomison put the ball down for her only kill of the set to give SJSU the 25-23 win and to force a fifth set.
And we're going 5! @RyannThomison with the set winner as the Spartans win the fourth set 25-23. Rally caps needed now!! pic.twitter.com/1XegOszRcQ
— SJSU VOLLEYBALL (@SanJoseStateVB) February 14, 2021
Set 5 – The Spartans trailed 14-11 before scoring the final five points of the match. Lousi tied the match at 14-14 with her second ace of the match and gave SJSU the lead with her third ace. Nelson put the match away with her ninth kill of the evening.
The Spartans continue on the road next week with matches at Fresno State on Thursday the 18th at 1 p.m., and Friday the 19th at 6 p.m.
San José State def. Air Force – 25-19, 10-25, 20-25, 25-23, 16-14.
Kills – SJSU – Latahevai Lousi 17, Makayla Lewis 10; AFA – Joi Harvey 12.
Records – San José State 1-3, 1-3; Air Force 2-2, 2-2.
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