By Nathan Canilao (@nathancanilao) – Spear reporter
San Jose State women’s volleyball (1-0, 0-0 Mountain West) won its first game of the season, defeating Southern Utah University (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky) 3-1 at the Weber State Tournament at Weber State in Ogden, Utah.
Both teams went back and forth in the first set with neither team holding a lead larger than five points. Junior outside hitter Letizia Cammillucci made the game-winning kill for the Spartans as SJSU took the first set.
The Spartans dominated the second set, going on a 15-5 run to take a 2-0 series lead.
After losing a close third set 25-20, SJSU took control of the fourth to take the 3-1 win over the Thunderbirds. Senior outside hitter Amethyst Harper sealed the deal with a game-winning kill to end the game.
Despite having 23 total errors to Southern Utah’s 17, the Spartans ended the game with a solid hitting percentage of .297 due to their high-powered offensive attack.
They outscored the Thunderbirds 74-49 and had 67 kills to Southern Utah’s 40.
Fifth-year senior Haylee Nelson recorded 15 kills in today’s game, pushing her career total to 1,128 which moved her to 12th on the SJSU career kills list.
Harper led the Spartans in kills with 19 and added 11 digs to her stat line. Fifth-year senior Sarah Smevog led all players in digs with 23.
Even though the Spartans played a somewhat sloppy game, head coach Trent Kersten believed this was just the start for the Spartans.
“There are so many things that are going to happen on day one that you’re just not quite ready for… I think our team did a wonderful job of adjusting and finding ways to win,” Kersten said after the game.
The Spartans will play game two of the Weber State Tournament against UC Riverside at 4 p.m.
