By Jonathon Schaffer — Reporter
San Jose State women’s volleyball (3-6, 3-6 MW) was given the brooms in a 3-0 set loss over the Colorado State Rams (5-4, 5-4 MW).
Junior middle blocker Haylee Nelson had a terrific game leading all stat categories. She had 18 kills, 13 digs and three aces. Junior libero Sarah Smevog also had three aces.
Redshirt senior outside hitter Breana Runnels led the Rams with 17 kills and 8 digs.
Colorado State began the first set with a 4-2 lead over the Spartans.
SJSU responded with rallies and kills coming from Nelson and outside hitter sophomore Makayla Lewis to tie the set at four.
Points would go back and forth until confusion with a serve from Smevog fell out of bounds on the Rams end, but SJSU was granted the point tying the set at eight.
Nelson and outside redshirt senior outside hitter Latahevai Lousi gave last-ditch efforts to keep the ball in play on their end. However, they were not able to keep up with the power-hitting of Colorado State who jumped to a 15-12 lead.
SJSU continued sloppy play which the Rams took advantage of and jumped to a five-point lead.
The Spartans finally broke the ice with a kill from freshman setter Mia Schafer to try and slow Colorado State.
SJSU went on a four-point run and two serving aces from Lousi that cut the Rams lead to 19-17.
The two teams went back and forth until the Rams edged the Spartans in the first set 25-23.
The Rams began the second set with a 5-0 run, but in a blink of an eye SJSU responded with a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the whole matchup at 6-5.
Colorado State jumped out to 13-10 lead until the Spartans snagged two quick points forcing the Rams to call a timeout.
A vital three-point run extended SJSU’s lead to 17-13.
Three more points would go to the Spartans until the Rams finally slowed the hot run with their race of three points making SJSU call a timeout.
The Rams clawed their way back to tie the set at 24 and got two more points to win the second set 26-24.
The Spartans began the third set with a solid 5-2 lead until the Rams fought for an 8-5 run for a 10-8 lead.
SJSU went on a three-point run to gain the lead at 11-10 until Colorado State tied it.
Sophomore setter Cierra Zimmerman twisted her ankle while going down and was taken out of the game.
The two teams continued to trade points, but Colorado State gained the lead of 20-18.
With a 23-20 lead for the Rams in the late third set, the Spartans needed a bolt to stay alive for the matchup. Unfortunately, they were unable to slow the Rams and lost the third set and the match 3-0.
The Spartans drop to 3-6 while the Rams now have a record over .500 standing at 5-4.
SJSU will have a second chance to even the series against Colorado State on Saturday, March 12 at 3 p.m at Yosh Uchida Hall.
Follow Jonathon on Twitter @jonny_schaffer
