San Jose, Calif.—Latahevai Lousi joined an exclusive club on Friday as a balanced hitting attack led the San José State volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Nevada inside Spartan Gym.
Lousi led all hitters with 20 kills and 20 digs, becoming just the 22nd player in San José State history to record a 20/20 double-double. The last 20/20 was recorded by Hanah Blume on September 13, 2013. Lousi hit .333 for the match (20-7-39) and led the Spartan blocking attack with four, one solo and three assists.
Allyson Alden had the best hitting day, percentage wise, for the Spartans hitting .500 with 10 kills on 20 attempts and no errors. Ryann Thomison hit .429 with a season-best 11 kills on 21 attempts and only two errors. Makayla Lewis recorded some critical kills for the Spartans, including the game winner, hit .524 for the match with 12 kills on 21 attempts and only one error. She also had a double-double with 10 digs to go with her 12 kills.
Haylee Nelson added 15 kills, seven digs and a block, while Sarah Smevog had 12 digs, five assists and two aces.
Mia Schafer recorded a season-best 58 assists for SJSU. She added nine digs, two blocks and an ace. Yazmin Pitpit recorded an ace and a dig.
Set 1 – The Spartans had five set points before winning 30-28 on a block by Alden, Lewis and Nelson. SJSU had trailed early on 7-3, but came back and had a 19-13 lead, only to see Nevada tie the set at 20-20. The two teams were tied 16 times during set one.
Set 2 – A similar feeling to set one, the two teams tied 11 times during the set including a 22-22 and 23-23. Lewis recorded a kill for point 24, and Thomison and Schafer combined on a block to win the set 25-23 for SJSU.
Set 3 – San José State again jumped out to a 13-8 lead, but Nevada chipped away at the lead, tying the set at 17-17, and then winning 25-23.
Set 4 – The Spartans took the lead in the set from the very first serve to win 25-16. Lewis capped off the match with her 12th kills of the match for the set winner.
"This is a good response to our bye week," said Spartan head coach Trent Kersten. "We had a lot of really great days together training. I think it rewarding to get the result that you want but know we have to be sharper in some areas. We know we haven't played our best volleyball yet."
The two teams play again on Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Spartan Gym. Fans can watch on the Mountain Network and follow live stats at sjsustats.com.
San José State def. Nevada 3-1 (30-28, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16).
Kills – NEV – Alyssa Zuro 15; SJSU Latahevai Lousi 20.
Records – Nevada 3-6, 3-6; San José State 2-5, 2-5.
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