Three Aztecs net all-tournament honors at Idaho State event

San Diego State volleyball players Shea Rubright, Gianna Bender and Taylor Underwood were named to the all-Idaho State Tournament team after helping the Aztecs to a 2-1 record at the season-opening event, held Aug. 30-Sept. 1 in Pocatello, Idaho.

A transfer from Washington State, Rubright made her Scarlet and Black debut a memorable one after leading the team in several categories, including hitting percentage (.483), points (45, 4.09/set), total blocks (13) and service aces (6). The SDSU middle blocker combined for 32 kills (2.91/set), committing just three errors in 60 attempts across three matches.

Rubright hit .600 in the tournament opener against Idaho State, blasting nine kills in 15 swings without a miscue to go with five block assists, as the Aztecs swept past the host Bengals last Friday.

Rubright followed that effort with a career-high 13 put-aways in 28 attempts with just two errors for a .393 efficiency against CSUN on Saturday. She also contributed three block assists and once, though the Scarlet and Black dropped a hard-fought decision to the Matadors in five sets.

Against Seattle University on Sunday, Rubright hit at a .529 clip, powering down 10 kills against one miscue on 17 swings, adding five blocks (1 solo) and a career-high four aces, helping the Aztecs roar to another three-set whitewash.

A freshman libero from Hudsonville, Michigan, Bender anchored the back row of a defense that limited the opposition to a collective .149 hitting percentage in SDSU’s two victories over Idaho State and Seattle.

In her first three collegiate matches, Bender led the Aztecs with 40 digs and 3.64 digs per set, surpassing the double-digit plateau in that statistic in the final two contests of the tournament. Against the Matadors, she topped the squad with 18 digs before collecting a match-high 16 scoops the following day vs. the Redhawks.

Additionally, Bender served up an ace against ISU and CSUN, handing out three setting assists as well in that latter match.

Meanwhile, Underwood led the Aztecs with 36 kills and 3.27 kills per set for the weekend, finishing second on the team with 43 points (3.91/set) and 12 total blocks (1.09/set).

A native of Norco, California, Underwood twice surpassed the double-digit barrier in kills, featuring a team-high 18 put-aways against CSUN to go with a career-high five blocks (1 solo). Previously, the SDSU opposite hitter floored 10 shots vs. Idaho State, adding five digs and three blocks (1 solo) in the sweep.

Underwood then logged her best hitting percentage of the weekend with a .375 clip against Seattle, launching eight kills against two errors in 16 swings while tying her collegiate best with four block assists.

SDSU tied Idaho State with three all-tournament selections, while CSUN and Seattle featured one apiece. The Bengals’ outside hitter Jamie Streit was named MVP for the event.

The Aztec trio and their teammates will be back in action this weekend when they play host to the San Diego State Invitational, Sept. 5-7, inside Aztec Court at Peterson Gym. SDSU will battle DePaul and Portland State, respectively, on Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m., before finishing the tournament against Tulane \ on Saturday at 3 p.m.

2024 All-Idaho State Tournament Team

• Shea Rubright, MB, San Diego State
• Gianna Bender, L, San Diego State
• Taylor Underwood, OPP, San Diego State
• Jamie Streit, OH, Idaho State (MVP)
• Meline Robarge, OPP, Idaho State
• Marci Bell, MB, Idaho State
• Amaris Smith, OH, CSUN
• Merima Smajlovic, OH, Seattle