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LAS VEGAS - If one look can speak volumes, the stunned faces of the Brigham Young women's volleyball team following its quarterfinal exit from the Mountain West Conference could fill a public library.
In a match filled with firsts, all bad from the BYU point of view, San Diego State turned the No. 20-ranked Cougars into Thanksgiving turkeys, winning in five exhausting games, 30-27, 30-28, 28-30, 24-30, 15-12.
Second-seeded BYU (24-5) became the first higher-seeded team bounced from the quarterfinals in the conference's eight-year history. It also was the first time the Cougars had lost in a quarterfinal match, as well as the first time BYU lost a five-game match this season.
"They came out and sparked it up," BYU's Chelsea Goodman said. "We didn't step up and match them."
For Aztec Kelly Wahlin, a Lone Peak High graduate, the win was sweet revenge for several reasons.
"I wanted this so bad, for three years now," the SDSU middle blocker said. "Oh yeah [it's an upset], considering their ranking and seeding."
San Diego State (12-17), which meets Colorado State today in the tournament semifinals, also wanted a little payback for an ice cream incident in Provo earlier this season. Cosmo the BYU mascot accidentally sprayed the Aztecs with the cold stuff during a Cougar victory.
"It bothered us," Aztec coach Mark Warner said.
Whatever motivated San Diego State worked. It also helped that BYU only showed short bursts of quality, which also kept the Aztecs in the game. The longer SDSU stayed with the Cougars, the higher its confidence ran, even when BYU tied the match and forced a fifth game.
"We're definitely a lot better than our record shows," said SDSU's Audra Dent, who set the early pace. She finished with 15 kills, as did Melanie Greene, whose final kill finished the game. "We played like it was our last chance.
Stephanie Darnall led SDSU with 16 kills.
Meanwhile, Goodman and Rachel Dyer paced BYU with 18 kills each. The difference, however, was Goodman's 13 errors, 11 of which came in the first two games.
"I don't think we ever played with the persona we'd like to," said BYU coach Jason Watson. "We didn't do a very good job of competing. San Diego State was good, certainly much better than us."
Watson also believes the loss may bounce the Cougars from the NCAA Tournament.
"We'll see Sunday," he said. "We're definitely a bubble team."
* BYU is the first No. 2 seed to lose in the Mountain West Conference quarterfinals.
* San Diego State's Audra Dent, Melanie Greene and Stephanie Darnall combined for 46 kills.