Box Score

POMONA -- Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team was able to hold off Cal Poly Pomona's final comeback bid in a five-set thriller in Darlene May Gym.

The Golden Eagles got some clutch performances in the fifth set of a 25-13, 18-25, 25-12, 18-25, 15-13 California Collegiate Athletic Association win on Thursday night. Cal State L.A. (11-7, 8-6 CCAA) won for the fifth time in its last six matches and claimed its second five-set victory of the season against two defeats.

Zuzana Cizova had 15 kills, including the final one of the match. She also had 17 digs. Natalia Gonzalez had 15 kills, including three late in the fifth set that allowed the Golden Eagles to stretch their lead. Marquis Mora had nine kills and six blocks.

Jessica Doerner had 15 kills to lead Cal Poly Pomona (8-11, 6-8 CCAA), while Kristin McNeese had 12 kills and Lindsey Poulos had 11 kills.

Cal State L.A. hit at a .292 clip and hit even better in the three sets it won. The Golden Eagles hit at a .520 percentage in the first set, at .632 in the third set and .387 in the final set. Cal State L.A. had 57 kills to 59 for Cal Poly Pomona.

The Golden Eagles had a 9-2 edge in blocks and a 10-4 advantage in service aces.

Mary Laupepa had eight kills and two service aces, Amrita Tuladhar had 52 set assists and three service aces and Stefanie Gay had 28 digs.

The Golden Eagles started quickly and opened up a 17-5 in the opening set after an ace by Tuladhar. The Golden Eagles led comfortably the rest of the way and finished the set on a kill by Gonzalez.

The Golden Eagles held a brief lead in the second set at 13-12, but the Broncos stormed back to even the match, taking the frame, 25-18.

Cal State L.A. had a tremendous showing in the third set and took control quickly. A kill by Gonzalez and two straight kills from Cizova gave the Golden Eagles a 20-10 advantage and they ultimately closed out the set on a kill by Tuladhar.

Cal State L.A. opened up a 13-10 lead in the fourth set after a pair of aces by Laupepa, but the Broncos battled back to even things up. Cal Poly Pomona broke a 17-17 tie with a set-ending 8-1 run.

The Golden Eagles, though, scored the first two points of the fifth set and never trailed. The Broncos tied it twice at 4-4 and 5-5, but a service error, a kill by Cizova, a kill by Chelsea Hamilton and a kill by Gonzalez sparked a 4-0 run. Gonzalez scored Cal State L.A.'s next three points to give the Golden Eagles a 12-8 lead and a kill by Mora made it 13-8.

Cal Poly Pomona, though, was not done and closed to within 13-11 before a kill by Mora brought the Golden Eagles to match point. The Broncos saved the first two to make it 14-13, but Cizova settled matters with her 15th and final kill of the match.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a match at Cal State San Bernardino.