By Jonathan Cañas (@jonathancanas_) – Spear Editor | Senior Blaire Fleming in the midst of serving the ball during a match against San Diego State on Oct. 10 (Photo by Nick Orozco – Co-Executive Editor of The Spear)
San Jose State volleyball (9-3, 4-3 MW) suffered back-to-back home losses for the first time this season. SJSU’s latest loss comes at the hands of UNLV (10-7, 3-3 MW) in a 3-1 stunner.
In the fourth and final set the Spartans battled back from being down 17-7 to make it 24-24. However, the Rebels prevailed and scored the next two points to seal the win.
“In the fourth set during the timeout, I was talking to them about embracing the pressure,” SJSU head coach Todd Kress said. “I thought that some of our student athletes didn’t look as confident as I would expect them to be or want them to be.”
SJSU lost the first set 25-22 in a back and forth battle.
It looked like the Spartans were in for a tough match after falling behind 17-11 in the second set before Kress called a timeout. They came off the timeout and responded with a 14-4 run which resulted in their first set win in three matches.
Kress said that he isn’t a fan of small victories and he was more impressed with the team’s resiliency.
“To me the bigger victory other than winning the second set was pushing the team in the fourth set,” Kress said. “That’s not a small victory, that’s a huge victory.”
SJSU’s Blaire Fleming, Brooke Bryant and Brooke Slusser led the Spartans in kills but Kress said he wants to see more from the rest of the team.
“We need more than three people to step up and I think if we had one or two more people score a few points for us, it’s a winnable match,” Kress said.
It’s worth noting the Spartans have been missing sophomore outside-hitter Nayeli Ti’a with an undisclosed injury since Sept. 24.
Ti’a’s absence has left a gaping hole in the Spartans’ offense which they desperately could’ve used against the Rebels, who lead the Mountain West in blocks.
“I expect [Ti’a] back in the next couple weeks,” Kress said. “We don’t want to rush her back because it’s a long season and we want her to be 100% fresh.”
The Spartans look to bounce back on the road against the bottom two Mountain West teams with their first stop being in New Mexico and then Colorado to take on Air Force.
SJSU will play the Lobos on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
