LIMA, Peru — San Diego volleyball opened play at the 2026 FISU America Games on Sunday morning with a 3-1 win over Brazil, dropping the first set 25-23 before taking the next three 25-18, 25-22 and 25-19 in its first match representing Team USA in Lima.
Kierstyn Barton led all players on the floor with 14 kills, putting them down on 29 swings with just two errors for a .414 clip. The senior outside hitter added 13 digs for a double-double, plus four blocks and an ace.
The turnaround came at the net. San Diego hit .133 in the opening set, with eight attack errors on 30 swings, then answered with its best frame of the morning in the second — 14 kills on 23 attempts against three errors for a .478 mark. The Toreros closed at .262 for the match while holding Brazil to .173 on 110 swings.
Blocking tilted the same direction. San Diego finished with 11 team blocks, and
Meghan Scholz was in on six of them. The senior middle blocker was efficient on the other side of the net as well, converting five kills on eight swings and adding two aces.
BayLea Sparks was in on four blocks and led the middles with nine kills on 14 attempts, hitting .357.
Two freshmen were right in the middle of it.
Emma Brewer posted a double-double in her own right with nine kills and 12 digs, passing at .833 on 18 reception attempts and chipping in two blocks and an ace.
Ryann Knuth needed only three sets to put up nine kills at .333, and she was flawless in serve receive, handling all 13 attempts that came her way without an error while adding six digs and a block.
Kylie Munday ran the offense with 38 assists and was the team's most productive server, landing three of San Diego's 10 aces while adding seven digs. Libero
Lauren Lynch anchored the back row with 12 digs and took a team-high 23 attempts in serve receive. As a group the Toreros passed at .833 and out-dug Brazil 57-33.
Nemo Beach contributed two kills and an ace, and
Reese Bates added an ace across 10 service attempts.
UP NEXT
San Diego returns to the court Tuesday, July 28 against Team Peru at 3 p.m. PT, then closes pool play Wednesday, July 29 against Team Colombia at 1 p.m. PT.
