Complete Box Score

LA JOLLA, Calif. – The 14th-ranked UC San Diego women's volleyball team took a 2-0 lead against No. 16 Cal State L.A. and held on in a thrilling five-game match, 30-20, 30-25, 27-30, 28-30, 15-11 on Saturday night in RIMAC Arena.

Nicole Courtney had a big match with 17 kills and 17 digs. Brianna Koche added 16 kills and six blocks. Rebecca Bailey added 12 kills and Sylvia Schmidt tallied 11 kills.

The Tritons served up 16 aces, compared to CSULA's eight, but the Tritons also committed 21 service errors. Kristin Halvorsen had 43 assists, seven digs and five blocks.

CSULA was led by Luana Cavalcanti with 15 kills.

Game One
CSULA scored the first three points of the match, but after a UCSD sideout, Nicole Courtney started a UCSD run with eight straight points to put the Tritons ahead 8-3 and CSULA called timeout. Courtney had four aces in the stretch and Koche had two kills. The Tritons opened up an eight point lead after an ace by Elaine Chen at 13-5. CSULA climbed back within 14-10, but another Triton run with Bailey serving pushed the Tritons ahead 19-10. UCSD extended the lead to 22-11 when Amber Ries put down an overpass. UCSD would then cruise to the 30-20 as Sylvia Schmidt tallied the final kill. Both teams hit well as UCSD hit .438 in the game and CSULA hit .393.

Game Two
CSULA took an early two point lead, before the Tritons scored five straight and led 6-3. UCSD then upped the lead to 13-5 on a block by Koche and Kristin Halvorsen, a Courtney kill and another block by Bailey and Koche. CSULA would battle back to come within 15-10 after a kill. CSULA then cut the UCSD lead down to 19-16 after a block, forcing UCSD to take timeout. With the Tritons ahead 20-17, UCSD went on a small run to lead 25-18 after a Bailey kill. CSULA then responded with back-to-back points to cut the margin to 25-20. CSULA cut it to 26-22, but a kill by Schmidt put UCSD back up by five at 27-22. A UCSD error then brought CSULA within three at 27-24, the closest the Golden Eagles had been since being down 8-5. Courtney then put down two key kills to help the Tritons win the game, 30-25.

Game Three
After four ties early on in game three, CSULA took an 11-8 lead as UCSD called timeout. Cal State L.A. then extended the lead to 18-13 after the Tritons had cut it to two points. Down by seven, UCSD battled back on a Courtney kill and solo block to come within 20-17. UCSD inched to within 22-20 on a CSULA error. Ries put down a kill and an ace by Schmidt tied it up at 23-23, the first tie since 8-8. The Tritons regained the lead at 26-25 after a CSULA attack error. CSULA then ran off four straight to lead 29-26. A Calvalcanti kill gave CSULA the game three win at 30-27.

Game Four
CSULA scored the first three points of game four and led until UCSD came back to tie it at 6-6. The Tritons went ahead for the first time on a Schmidt kill at 7-6. After the Tritons took an 11-9 lead, CSULA responded with a run to take back the lead at 13-11. UCSD would battle back to tie the game at 15-15 after a CSULA error. CSULA would open up a 21-18 lead after a block and force UCSD to take timeout. The Golden Eagles then opened up a 24-20 edge, putting the pressure on UCSD. The Tritons then scored four straight, aided by strong serving by Elaine Chen to tie it up at 24-24, as CSULA called timeout. CSULA came right out and scored two quick points and hold the lead until a Schmidt ace tied it up at 28-28. After a UCSD error, CSULA served up an ace to win 30-28 and force game five.

Game Five
UCSD took its first lead of game five at 3-2 on a Ries kill. Courtney followed with a kill and a big block by Ries and Koche put the Tritons ahead 5-2, as CSULA called timeout. CSULA would rally and tie the game right back at 6-6. Ries then recorded a solo block and a CSULA attack error put UCSD up 8-6 as the teams changed sides. UCSD opened up a 10-6 lead on a Koche kill and CSULA used its final timeout. Koche then slammed down an overpass off a Facchini serve to put the Tritons ahead 11-6. CSULA would climb back within 12-9. UCSD then recorded a big block to force game point at 14-9. The Golden Eagles then scored on back-to-back kills to make it 14-11. The Tritons then called on Schmidt who sent down the kill in the middle, 15-11.