By Christian Vieyra(@thecvieyra)– Spear Reporter| Photo courtesy of SJSU athletics
SJSU volleyball lost in the final set against Nevada today after rallying back in the fourth set at the Virginia Street Gym in Reno.
The loss put the Spartans back under .500 on the season with a 12-13 record and buried them deeper in the conference standings with a 3-9 record.
Down 2-1, SJSU forced a fifth set on the back of freshman Nayeli Ti’a whose three straight aces ended set four 25-20.
Ti’a led the day for the Spartans on offense with 15 kills and five aces.
SJSU junior Brooke Slusser helped with an astounding 40 assists, her second most on the season.
Spartans freshman Laurel Barsocchini was stout on defense with 14 digs with help from Ti’a and Slusser who each had 11 digs. Barsocchini’s 14 digs were her second most digs in a match this season.
After the Spartans won the first set 25-20 the Wolfpack would soar back, winning 25-18 and 25-23 getting that commanding 2-1 lead.
“We just got to finish and stay mentally strong in those last few points,” said associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose.
In the final set, the Spartans held the lead twice but the Wolfpack finished off SJSU after scoring three unanswered points which eventually led to their 15-9 win.
“Defense always wins and we let some balls out there,” Batie-Smoose said.
SJSU was unable to stop Nevada’s sophomore Gabby McLaughlin who finished with 19 kills.
“All in all, I’m very proud of their efforts today,” Batie-Smoose said. “We’ll be back home finally, so we’re happy about that.”
SJSU will look to regroup at home against Colorado State in its first game back home since Oct. 19. The match against the Rams is at 6 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Spartan Gym.
