Box Score
ARCATA -- Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team got its California Collegiate Athletic Association schedule off to a good start.
The Golden Eagles welcomed the return of
Mary Laupepa and swept past Humboldt State, 25-12, 25-19, 25-23, Thursday night in Lumberjack Arena. Cal State L.A. (5-3, 1-0 CCAA) used a balanced attack and bounced back nicely from its disappointing finish at the UC San Diego Invitational last weekend.
In that one, Cal State L.A. couldn't close out Saginaw Valley State and lost in five sets to end the two-day tourney with a 2-2 record. In their first match since the disappointment, the Golden Eagles bolted out to a big early lead and never looked back.
Laupepa, who missed the first two weeks because of injury, made an immediate impact in her return. She had a match-high six service aces to go along with four blocks. She also helped on the defensive end and Cal State L.A. limited Humboldt State to a .043 hitting percentage.
Gabriela Bulawczyk had seven kills and 10 digs, while
Zuzana Cizova and
Chelsea Hamilton had six kills each.
Kassie Faulkner had five kills and five five blocks.
Oceana Matsubu had nine kills and 10 digs to lead Humboldt State (4-5, 0-1), while Dani Nelson had six kills.
Kaylynne De La Rosa had 14 set assists and nine digs, while
Keslie Brown had 10 set assists, two service aces and five digs for the Golden Eagles.
Cal State L.A. had a 30-23 edge in kills and enjoyed an 11-3 advantage in service aces. The Golden Eagles also had a 9-6 blocking advantage.
The Golden Eagles scored the first three points of the match and never trailed. Laupepa served three aces during a six-point serving run that gave the Golden Eagles a 16-8 lead. An ace by Brown closed out the first set.
Cal State L.A. was locked in a 13-13 tie in the second set, but used a 6-1 run to take command. In the final set, the Golden Eagles opened up a 19-14 advantage and then had to weather a strong Humboldt State rally. The Lumberjacks eventually took a 23-21 lead, but a kill by Hamilton, back-to-back aces by Laupepa and a kill by Bulawczyk ended the match.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a match at unbeaten Sonoma State.
