By Nick Austin – Spear Reporter | Then junior Blaire Flemming lays out during the final victory of the 2023 campaign when San Jose State defeated San Diego State 3-1 on November 16 at the Spartan Gym. (Photo by Titus Wilkinson)
San Jose State women’s volleyball (1-0) started its season right with a 3-0 win over Louisiana Tech (0-1) at the Fullerton Invitational.
SJSU senior outside and right-side hitter Blaire Fleming led the Spartans with 16.5 points and 14 kills.
Redshirt sophomore outside hitter Nayeli Ti’a was another key contributor, racking up eight kills, 11.5 points, and 11 digs.
SJSU came out the gates hot in the first set taking a commanding 13-5 lead before L.A. Tech called a timeout.
The first set was highlighted by SJSU’s six blocks to L.A. Tech’s two and the Spartans’ .333% hitting percentage to the Bulldogs -.097%, which helped them pull a 25-14 victory.
“I thought we were pretty good on the defensive side of the ball of limiting their swings and did a nice job blocking and in the back-court,” SJSU head coach Todd Kress said in a post to X.
SJSU started the second set shakier than the first being down 9-3 heading into a timeout. The Spartans would be staring at a seven-point deficit before they clawed their way back, eventually trimming the lead down to two before an L.A. Tech timeout.
The momentum had fully shifted after the timeout as SJSU would go on to win the set via a 25-17 margin. A 5-0 Spartan service ace advantage highlighted the second-set comeback.
Set number three was a combination of the previous two with the Spartans taking an early 3-0 lead but then giving up seven unanswered to the Bulldogs. SJSU would eventually fight back to take a 10-9 lead.
The Spartans would then go on to win the set in convincing fashion with a 25-15 victory and an overall match win against the Bulldogs.
SJSU’s next game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday versus Cal State Fullerton, which will wrap up play at the Fullerton Invitational in the Titan Gym.
