Oct. 11, 2005
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, CA - USD overcame a late rally by city rivals San Diego State to knock off the Aztecs 3-2 Tuesday night at SDSU's Peterson Gym. It appeared that No. 15 San Diego (14-2) would cruise to victory after convincingly taking the opening game, but San Diego State (11-7) used a spirited rally to push the match into a fifth and decisive frame. The Toreros outlasted SDSU by scores of (30-15, 27-30, 30-22, 27-30, 15-10). USD has now won five straight and 13 of the last 15 meetings overall against the Aztecs.
A large crowd on the campus of SDSU watched the Toreros claim the only scheduled match between the local rivals this fall. USD juniors MH Christie Dawson (Apple Valley, CA/Granite Hills HS) and OH Kristen Carlson (Purcellville, VA/Loudoun HS) led the way for the Toreros, combining for 58 kills- eclipsing SDSU's entire team total of 50 on the night.
San Diego, ranked 15th nationally in the latest Top 25 Poll released by the AVCA, benefited from another outstanding effort by All-America setter Lindsey Sherburne (Saratoga, CA/Archbishop Mitty HS). Sherburne handed out 75 assists (15.0 apg) and allowed USD to hit .368 as a team in Game Five.
San Diego State was bidding to join perennial West Coast powers Pepperdine and No. 22 UCLA to share in the distinction of being the only teams to have defeated USD in 2005. OH Audra Dent (Aptos, CA/Aptos HS) had a team-high 16 kills and 6-foot-5 MH Lindsey Noll (St. Louis, MO/Missouri) registered a career-high 12 blocks for an Aztec team that falls to 4-4 on their home floor this season.
The Toreros came back from a 7-4 deficit in Game Five, along with 26 ties and 12 lead changes throughout the match to come away victorious. Dawson had four kills in the final frame and Carlson finished with 33 kills. Sophomores MH Laurel Abrahamson (Bloomington, MN/Thomas Jefferson HS) and Moira McCarthy (Indianapolis, IN/Cathedral HS) each reached double figures in kills for USD and reigning two-time WCC Defender of the Year L Jackie Bernardin (Bakersfield, CA/Centennial HS) led all players with 21 digs.
San Diego travels to the Bay Area this weekend to face No. 14 Santa Clara (15-1) Saturday at 7:00 pm PDT.
