Aztec Attack Downs Islanders

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Texas A&M-Corpus Christi could not slow San Diego State Friday afternoon in the opener of the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational, falling 25-19, 25-18, 25-18 to the Aztecs.
 
Brittany Gilpin led all players in the match with 13 kills, but a balanced San Diego State attack hit .344 with five players recording five or more kills to down the Islanders.  Deja Harris and Baylee Little led the Aztecs with 10 kills apiece while hitting .643 and .529, respectively.
 
The Islanders (1-3) out-blocked San Diego State 7-3 on the day, but eight service aces from the Aztecs help spark decisive runs throughout the match.
 
Three early aces in the first set staked San Diego State to a 10-6 lead and the Aztecs never looked back. Another ace with the score at 18-14 sparked a 5-1 run to seal the opening set for the Aztecs.
 
After falling behind 7-3 in the second set, the Islander block caught fire with back-to-back rejections to ignite a rally. Morgan Williams' solo stuff  was followed by a rejection from Rachel Young and Mallory Moran to spark a 4-0 run to level the set at 10-10. Brittany Gilpin and Young would add another block shortly thereafter in another 4-0 run as the Blue and Green built a 14-11 lead.
 
Once again, the Aztecs had an answer as San Diego State close the set on 10-2 run of its own to lead 2-0 at the break.
 
The third set was all Aztecs as they built an insurmountable 19-8 lead en route to closing out the sweep in 25-18 fashion.
 
The Islanders return to the court at the Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational in a twin-bill on Saturday, beginning with a bout against Marshall at 10 a.m. The Blue and Green will close the tournament against host and No. 23 Michigan State at 6:30 p.m.