Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team once again used outstanding balance to post an important California Collegiate Athletic Association victory.

 

The Golden Eagles avenged an early-season loss to No. 17 Sonoma State by sweeping the Seawolves, 25-19, 25-21, 25-21, Friday night iin the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (14-6, 10-3 CCAA) remains in sole possession of third place in the conference after its ninth win in its last 10 matches.

 

The victory was also big in a regional sense. Cal State L.A. was fifth in the first official NCAA Division II West Region poll released on Thursday, while Sonoma State (15-5, 7-5 CCAA) was third. The Golden Eagles lost earlier in the season to the Seawolves in five sets in a match Cal State L.A. led, 2-1.

 

Cal State L.A. enjoyed a 49-30 advantage in kills and hit at a .273 percentage to just .113 for the Seawolves. The Golden Eagles also had an 11-10 advantage in blocks.

 

Gabriela Bulawczyk had 12 kills, 17 digs and four blocks for the Golden Eagles, while Mary Laupepa had nine kills and five blocks. Chelsea Hamilton had eight kills, Kaylynne De La Rosa had 36 set assists, seven kills, 10 digs and five blocks.

 

Ali Walker had 10 kills for Sonoma State, while Keala Peterson had seven kills.

 

Zuzana Cizova had seven kills and nine digs for the Golden Eagles, while Marquis Mora had six kills and six blocks.

 

The Golden Eagles came out determined and took charge from the opening set. After breaking a 4-4 tie on a kill by Hamilton, the Golden Eagles led the rest of the way. A kill by Bulawczyk started a 5-0 run that included an ace by Stefanie Gay, two kills by De La Rosa and a kill by Bulawczyk that stretched the Golden Eagles' lead from 11-9 to 16-9. Cal State L.A. opened up a 20-12 lead after a kill by Hamilton and, after Sonoma State rallied to make it 23-19, a kill by De La Rosa and a block by Bulawczyk and Laupepa ended the set.

 

The second set was closer, although the Golden Eagles once again opened up a sizeable lead after reaching the midway point. Cal State L.A. held a 14-13 lead before going on a 7-1 run that began with a kill by Mora and ended with a kill by Hamilton. The Seawolves got as close as 24-21 after an ace by Walker, but a service error gave the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead.

 

Sonoma State started quickly in the third set and opened up an 8-4 lead and led as late as 18-17. The Golden Eagles, though, put the match away with a 5-0 run that broke a 19-19 tie and brought them to match point. Kills by De La Rosa and Laupepa forced a Sonoma State, but the Golden Eagles came out and scored on a block by Laupepa and De La Rosa, ball-handling error and a kill by Laupepa to lead, 24-19. A kill by Walker and an attack error made it 24-21, but a kill by Bulawczyk ended the match.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday afternoon with a home match against Humboldt State.