By Alex Stoev (alexstoevsjsu) – Spear Reporter | Junior setter Fatimah Hall sets the ball during SJSU’s 3-0 loss to UC Santa Barbara on August 30, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Najimi – Spear photographer)
San Jose State women’s volleyball (0-3) falls in a close one to Utah Valley (2-2) 3-0 on Wednesday in the Outrigger Invitational at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Spartans started off hot, leading throughout most of the first set, but in a late slump they gave up four straight points resulting in a 25-23 defeat in the first.
The second set was a different story for SJSU as they didn’t lead at all throughout, committing eight errors to Utah Valley’s three. They still managed to keep it close, losing 25-23.
A late Wolverines surge towards the end of the third set is what sealed the Spartans defeat, 25-19.
A bright spot for SJSU came from junior setter Fatimah Hall, who finished with her first double-double of the season with 23 assists and 11 digs.
The Spartans had 35 kills and 22 of them came from four different players. Freshman Morgan Graves (six), redshirt junior Lolo Fonua (six), junior Morgan Castaneda (five), and junior Ava Hewitt-Smith (five).
The Wolverines won a close battle in the error department, finishing with only 13 compared to the Spartans 16.
Even though SJSU kept the match close, they lost the defensive battle, as the Wolverines senior middle blocker Bella Wooden finished the match with more blocks (seven) than the entire Spartans lineup (five).
The Spartans will look to earn their first win of the season on Sept. 4 against the University of Hawai’i at the SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii at 10 p.m.
