The San José State women's volleyball team snapped its six-match losing streak beating San Diego State University 3-1 in the Spartans’ season finale.
The Aztecs (9-20, 4-14 MWC) outscored the Spartans (13-18, 4-14 MWC) in four sets 63-61, but SJSU emerged victorious at Yoshihiro Uchida Hall.
"I'm so proud of our seniors and happy for our program," SJSU head coach Todd Kress said. "I'm glad we were able to gut one out towards the end and win on a good note for our seniors who've done so much for this program."
Kress said it's been a rough season for a number of different reasons but to finish the season with a will help carry momentum into the spring and into next fall.
“Jiana Lawson is coming back next season, but it's going be tough losing the other three senior leaders who all played a vital role in our win tonight,” Kress said.
The three senior leaders are outside hitter Letizia Cammillucci, libero Lauren Conroy and middle blocker Yazmin Pitpit.
Pitpit had a season-best seven kills and five digs to go with three blocks against the Aztecs.
"I came out here with no nerves tonight. My main focus was to play for my teammates and leave it all out there tonight," Pitpit said.
Cammillucci finished with the Spartans with three aces, five kills, seven digs, two blocks and led the Spartans with three aces.
"Our senior leadership tonight is what I think gave us the inspiration and motivation to play well and bring home the dub tonight," Cammillucci said.
The Spartans started the match with a dominating first set. Junior middle blocker Brooke Slusser contributed early in the first set with two digs and a kill. Junior middle blocker Brooke Bryant added two kills in the first set.
The Spartans got hot early pushing the lead to 15-5, ultimately taking the first set 25-15.
“From the beginning of the night, the vibes were great,” Cammillucci said. “ We were all emotional but ready to play for the seniors tonight.
SJSU started out flat in the second set and trailed early 4-0. The Spartans continued to fight and rallied back against the Aztecs to tie the match in the second at 15-15.
Despite tying the set, the Spartans couldn’t push past the Aztecs, dropping the set 25-22.
Later in the third set, SJSU found itself down 16-12 but ended up taking the match into extras and pulling out the win 27-25.
Midway through the fourth set, SDSU gained a slight edge over SJSU, leading 20-15 but the Spartans fought to the very end and came back to win the fourth set 25-22 and snapping their six-match losing streak.
Cammillucci said she's happy her team was able to come out with a victory to end the season because of struggles they’ve had this season.
“I’m really happy that we were able to fight back from being down and win the game,” Cammillucci said. “I’m coming back from an injury so my main focus tonight was to help my teammates as much as possible by keeping the ball in play and giving everything I have.”
Pitpit said this isn't the season they wanted but she's excited to see how they build off of this and move forward with the program.
"I'm super proud to leave this program better than I found it. The hard work, love, values and dedication the girls put in just makes me so proud to be a Spartan," Pitpit said.
