San Jose, Calif. - The University of Nevada (11-13, 6-8 WAC) volleyball team lost its third consecutive Western Athletic Conference match falling 3-1 to San Jose State by scores of 15-25, 23-25, 25-18 and 22-25 at Spartan Gym in San Jose, Calif. this afternoon. With the loss the Wolf Pack are now 11-13 on the season and 6-8 in WAC play while the Spartans improved to 11-15 overall and 6-8 in conference play. The Spartans and Pack are tied for fifth in the conference standings with identical 6-8 records but SJSU holds the tie breaker based on winning both matches played this season.
SJSU put together a mini 2-0 run to break a 3-3 tie and never trailed in winning set one 25-15. The Spartans gradually built the lead to the final 10-point margin which was the largest of the set. SJSU hit .382 in set one and held the Pack to a match low .143.
The second set was the closest of the night with 12 ties and three lead changes before the Spartans won 25-23 to take a 2-0 set lead in the match. With the set tied a 23-23 SJSU scored the final two points to claim victory. Nevada improved its attack percentage to .170 but the Spartans attack percentage slipped slightly to .304.
Following the break Nevada scored a 25-18 victory in set three to pull within a set a 2-1. The Pack jumped to an early 10-5 advantage and cruised to the seven-point victory. Senior Allison Hernandez provided the final kill off an assist from setter Tatiana Santiago. The Pack hit .244 and held the Spartans to a match low .103 attack percentage in set three.
Nevada trailed 15-10 in set four but rallied to knot the score at 18-18. The score was then tied four more times with the final tie coming at 22-22. The Pack held a one-point advantage at 22-21 but SJSU scored the final five points to win the set 25-22 and match 3-1. Nevada had its best hitting set of the night at .267 but SJSU was even better at .275.
Sophomore outside hitter Kylie Harrington led Nevada with a career-high 21 kills and added 13 digs to post her team leading eighth double-double of the season. Sophomore Middle Blocker Lindsay Baldwin contributed 13 kills to the offensive attack. Hernandez was a kill shy of recording a double-double as she totaled nine kills and 13 digs in the match. Libero Nicole Link finished with a match-high 21 digs and defensive specialist Lauren Kelly added 10. Santiago dished out 42 assists in the loss.
Kelly Crow topped the Spartans with a match-high 23 kills and added 18 digs to post a double-double. Colleen Burke contributed 14 kills in the victory. Setter Brittany Collet finished with a double-double for SJSU with 45 assists and 13 digs. Courtney Zellmer and Kristal Tsukano each finished with 12 digs in the match.
SJSU hit .265 in the match and the Pack .211. Both teams had three blocks in the match. Brittni Yates finished with three blocks for Nevada and Kyle Miraldi three for the Spartans.
Nevada will play its final two WAC matches of the season on the road next week in the state of Idaho. Thursday the Pack is at Idaho and Saturday play at Boise State. Both matches get underway at 7:00 p.m.
