Box Score
ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State L.A.'s volleyball team pushed No. 15 Sonoma State to the limit Saturday night in a big early-season California Collegiate Athletic Association showdown, but the Seawolves passed the test.
The Seawolves rallied from a 2-1 deficit and outlasted the Golden Eagles, 25-23, 21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-9 Saturday in the Wolves' Den. Cal State L.A. (5-4, 1-1 CCAA) has now lost three five-set matches in as many attempts so far this season.
Zuzana Cizova and
Chelsea Hamilton had 16 kills each to lead the Golden Eagles, while
Kassie Faulkner had 12 kills and five blocks and
Gabriela Bulawczyk had 11 kills and 11 digs.
Allyson Sather had a match-high 19 kills to lead Sonoma State (10-0, 2-0 CCAA), while Sarah Illingworth had 10 kills and two blocks.
Cal State L.A. enjoyed a 72-56 edge in kills and outhit the Seawolves, .261 - .211. Both teams had nine blocks, while Cal State L.A. had six aces and 10 serving errors to Sonoma State's seven aces and six serving errors.
Marquis Mora had eight kills and six blocks for the Golden Eagles, while
Mary Laupepa had nine kills and two aces.
Stefanie Gay had a match-high 26 digs,
Kaylynne De La Rosa had 28 set assists and 13 digs and
Keslie Brown had 26 set assists and nine digs.
The Golden Eagles fell behind midway through the first set and, after rallying to stave off a set point on a kill by Laupepa, dropped the set on a bad set.
Cal State L.A. rebounded strongly and never trailed in the second and third sets. In the second, the Golden Eagles jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead and never looked back. The Golden Eagles took a 23-19 lead after a Cizova kill, got to set point after a Sonoma State service error and then evened the match on a kill by Mora.
Cal State L.A. rolled to an 18-10 lead in the third set and briefly had control of the match. The Seawolves, though, were able to close to within 24-22 before a kill by Mora ended the set.
The fourth set was close throughout and Cal State L.A. held its last lead at 17-16 after a kill by Laupepa. The last tie was at 18-18 after a kill by Bulawczyk, but Sonoma State scored the next four points and held the Golden Eagles at bay to send the match to a fifth set.
The Golden Eagles scored the first point on a block by Mora and Bulawczyk, but Sonoma State scored the next five points and Cal State L.A. never fully recovered. The Golden Eagles pulled to within 10-8 after a kill by Hamilton and a Sonoma State attack error, but the Seawolves five of the next six points to win the match.
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a home match against UC San Diego in the Eagles Nest.
