by Alex Diaz – Spear Reporter | Senior outside and right-side hitter Blaire Fleming moments before delivering a kill for Spartans at Titan Gymnasium. (Photo by Taylor Cowhey – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State volleyball (2-0) kept the positive momentum going with a 3-1 win over Cal State Fullerton (0-3) at Titan Gymnasium in Fullerton, Calif.
SJSU standout senior outside and right-side hitter Blaire Fleming led the game with 25 kills and 29 points marking a career high.
Senior setter Brooke Slusser contributed 40 assists and scored 10.5 points for the Spartans.
The Titans set out with an average two-point lead against the Spartans in the first set and ultimately secured a victory with a final score of 25-22.
“We played our worst set of the early season,” SJSU head coach Todd Kress said.
In the second set, senior right-side hitter Brooke Bryant and sophomore outside hitter Nayeli Ti’a secured two consecutive kills to advance the score to 14-12 to take the lead.
Fleming excited the game with a powerful kill straight down the middle. The combined effort of freshman middle blocker Jade Epps and Fleming ensured a solid block, further cementing the score at 23-20.
An unexpected error in the set by the Titans allowed the Spartans to win the second set, 25-21.
SJSU began to find its rhythm and secured the first point of the third set.
The two competitors were knotted at 19-19 and 21-21 in a tight match.
Ti’a sealed the third set with a kill down the middle, winning the set for the Spartans with a score of 25-21.
SJSU consistently scored an average of a two-point lead against Fullerton in the fourth and final set.
Junior middle blocker Emma Testi delivered the last serve of the set, ending the game 25-21. The Titans assumed the serve was out but ultimately it sealed the deal, giving the Spartans their second win to start off the season.
“I’m not really concerned on wins or loses at this point in the season,” Kress said. “I’m more focused on our process I thought that we failed.”
SJSU will continue to play on the road with its next stop being at the Hawkeye Invite #1 hosted by the University of Iowa on Sept. 6-8. The first game versus Iowa is set for 10 a.m. Sept. 6th at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
