By Aidan Bostic (@bostic_aidan) – Spear Reporter
The San Jose State volleyball team (6-3, 0-0 MW) defeated the Milwaukee Panthers (1-9, 0-0 HL), 3-1, in their second game at the Trojan Challenge in Los Angeles.
The Spartans are coming off a statement win against New Mexico State and they were able to carry that same level of intensity into their match against Milwaukee.
Fifth-year outside hitter Haylee Nelson was the game’s kill leader with 18 kills on 0.545% hitting. She also had a game-high six blocks.
The first set was highly competitive and even when Milwaukee started to pull away, SJSU would score five straight points to tie the set at 23. The Spartans lost the next two points, losing the set, 25-23.
In the second set, Nelson caught fire and she could not be stopped, delivering kill after kill without a response from Milwaukee. SJSU won the set, 25-14, and tied the game, 1-1. Once the momentum shifted, the Spartans did not look back.
SJSU won the third set, 25-22, and although it was a close set, SJSU was in control for most of it. Fifth-year libero Sarah Smevog had a game-high 14 digs and her defensive play allowed the Spartans to keep the lead for most of the set.
SJSU was able to seal the deal in the fourth and final set, winning 25-20, and winning the match, 3-1. Sophomore middle blocker Brooke Bryant and senior middle blocker Yazmin Pitpit had some big kills in the final set to secure the win.
Redshirt Sophomore Blaire Fleming had 12 kills of her own and Senior outside hitter Amethyst Harper had 11 on top of that. The trio of Fleming, Harper, and Nelson has been hard for other teams to stop.
After losing both games on their last trip to Los Angeles, the Spartans were able to make up for it this weekend. They hope to carry this momentum into their third and final game at the Trojan Challenge.
The Spartans play USC at the Galen Center on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 1 pm.
