By Estevan Vargas (@estevan_va) – Spear Reporter | Spartans blocking opponents shot on Oct. 25th (Photo by Shahd Suliman) – Spear photographer
San Jose State’s women’s volleyball (10-14, 5-8 MW) fell to Air Force (13-12, 5-8 MW) 3-0 on Nov. 6, splitting their season’s matchup, 1-1.
Despite the loss, the night was historic for junior middle blocker Ava Hewitt-Smith, who tied for 10th all-time in single-season solo blocks at SJSU with her 29th of the year.
Five of which came in this match. She now needs just one more to tie for eighth place in program history. She would be tied with Maria Healy (1986) and Jodi Breding (1982).
Air Force’s offense proved to be dominant, led by sophomore outside hitter Alysa Walker, who recorded 15 kills.
SJSU battled closely in the opening set. Seven Spartans earned at least one kill, but came up short, 25-21.
The second set was another close battle between both teams.
The Spartans fought hard, keeping the score tight throughout. Air Force managed to pull ahead and take the set with a 25-22 win.
The Spartans tried to rally in the third but couldn’t slow down the Falcons’ attack, falling again 25-21.
Freshman outside hitter Morgan Graves led the Spartans with six kills, followed by junior middle blocker Learden Lee with five.
Junior outside hitter Morgan Castaneda, redshirt junior right-side hitter Lolo Fonua and junior outside hitter Naima Foster each had four kills.
Freshman libero Talita Gonçalves led the defense with 19 digs, the only Spartan to reach double digits.
SJSU will look to bounce back on the road against the University of Nevada on Nov. 8 at noon in Reno, Nev.
