By: Marilyn Anye (@AnyeMarilyn) – Spear Reporter | San Jose State outside hitter Naima Foster goes up for a kill during the Spartans’ three-set sweep over the Falcons on Friday afternoon at Spartan Gym. (Photo by Marilyn Anye – Spear photographer)
San Jose State women’s volleyball (8-9, 3-3 MW) swept Air Force (11-7, 3-3 MW) 3-0 Friday afternoon, relying on strong defense and steady momentum to secure a Mountain West victory at home.
After falling behind 6-0 in the first set, the Spartans managed to get their heads in the game and utilize intense blocking and defensive strategies to get back on track.
Head coach Todd Kress said the sluggish start was something the team can’t afford to repeat.
“After that 6-0 start in the first set, it looked like we didn’t realize we were playing,” Kress said. “We can’t do that. We’ve got to come out from point one with more energy and be a little more dialed in.”
Outside hitter Morgan Graves and middle blocker Learden Lee helped spark momentum with key hits and blocks that turned the tide. Outside hitter Naima Foster added to the push as SJSU battled point-for-point before closing out the first set.
Once the Spartans found their rhythm, the Falcons pushed back, allowing SJSU to use its momentum to move forward.
With confidence growing, the Spartans came in and dominated the second set, using a steady balance between defense and offense to stay in control.
Even as the Falcons pressed offensively, the Spartans’ defense remained consistent, controlling the pace of the game.
The Falcons’ missed shots also gave the Spartans extra breathing room, allowing them to build up their confidence.
The final set tested SJSU’s consistency with several ties and momentum swings. The team’s communication and energy remained strong even as Air Force tried to regain control.
Ava Hewitt-Smith and Tatiana Robinson worked in sync on both ends of the court, combining for key defensive stops and timely attacks that kept SJSU steady down the stretch.
Graves and Hewitt-Smith breaking the ties in the middle of the game helped us come back up when it seemed like the Spartans were losing their momentum.
“In that third set, there was a lull where we went down 20–16 after being up, and we can’t have those ebbs and flows if we want to keep progressing,” Kress said.
Together, they provided the spark that pushed SJSU to the finish.
Despite the ups and downs, Kress applauded his younger players for stepping up when it mattered most.
“We had four freshmen playing their butt off,” Kress said. “We were smarter in our shot selection, we served the heck out of the ball. Very proud of my freshmen as they continue to stand up.”
With its freshmen stepping up and consistency improving across the team, SJSU looks to carry that momentum into its next match.
The Spartans will face the Broncos this Wednesday, 5 p.m., at the Bronco Gym in Boise, Idaho.
