SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Fairfield University volleyball team fought hard against San Diego State University this afternoon but fell to the host Aztecs, 3-0 (23-30, 26-30, 28-30) in the first of two matches at the Aztec Invitational this afternoon.

Sophomore Katie Mann (Del Mar, Calif./Torrey Pines) led the Stags for the second straight match with 12 kills while junior Karlie Urbaniak (Canton, Minn./Mabel-Canton) posted 11 kills, while committing just one error in 26 chances.

Seniors Kelly Oliver (San Diego, Calif./La Jolla) and Lauren Campbell (San Diego, Calif./Mount Carmel) also played well for the Stags. Oliver recorded 13 digs and eight kills along with three total blocks while Campbell posted four total blocks and two kills.

In game one, Fairfield put up the first point of the match on a block by Oliver and Mann, but San Diego State (2-0) quickly opened up a commanding 20-9 lead. The Stags narrowed the gap to 24-17 on a kill by Mann but the Aztecs stayed in command.

The second stanza was a much closer contest between the two squads. Trailing 25-18, Mann was able to spark the Stags offense with a kill which led to an important run. Lee followed the kill by serving three straight points to pull Fairfield within 25-22. The Stags continued to roll moving within 27-25 on a kill by Campbell. A kill by the Aztecs' Stephanie Darnall halted the run, however, as SDSU picked up the 30-26 win.

Fairfield controlled for much of the third game, pulling out to a 16-9 lead to start. The Stags continued the momentum, gaining a 21-16 advantage on a kill by Oliver. The Aztecs began to creep back, using a 5-0 burst to knot the match 21-21on a kill by Hannah Evans. An ace by Brandi Higa (Honolulu, Hawaii/Hawaii Baptist Academy) would tie the game 23-23. The two teams would tie twice more before Kelley Wahlin put San Diego State on top 27-25 on back-to-back kills. Fairfield did not go away quietly, coming back to tie the game 28-28, but the Aztecs were able to pull out the victory.

San Diego State out-blocked Fairfield, 13.5-7 and held a 54-43 advantage in kills.

Higa finished with 12 digs while sophomore Barbie Thistle (Bakersfield, Calif./Bakersfield) had 34 assists, five kills, and five digs. Senior Lindsey Lee (Hilo, Hawaii/St. Joseph) had nine digs and was held to just two kills.

For the Aztecs, Darnall notched a double-double with a match-high 18 kills and 15 digs along with five total blocks. Leah Lathrop also had a double-double with 16 assists and 12 digs.

Fairfield (0-2) continues action at the Aztec Invitational this evening against host UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. (EST).