Box Score

LOS ANGELES – This time, Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team made sure it didn't let a big lead get away.

 

The Golden Eagles turned in one of their most complete performances of the season in a 25-14, 25-17, 25-21 California Collegiate Athletic Association victory over Cal State Monterey Bay. One night after letting a match get away against San Francisco State, the Golden Eagles (12-9, 9-8 CCAA) never let up against Cal State Monterey Bay in the Eagles Nest.

 

It was an important win for the Golden Eagles as they battle for a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Cal State L.A. was 10^th in the most recent regional rankings and it picked up a big win over No. 7 Cal State Monterey Bay (13-7, 10-7 CCAA). The Golden Eagles also moved closer to the top of the tightly-bunched CCAA standings.

 

Zuzana Cizova had 14 kills and 10 digs to lead the Golden Eagles, while Marquis Mora had 10 kills and four blocks. Natalia Gonzalez had nine kills, while Chelsea Hamilton had eight kills.

 

Rheann Fall had nine kills for the Otters.

 

Stefanie Gay had a match-high 16 digs for Cal State L.A., while Amrita Tuladhar and Jordyn Moscoso combined for 40 set assists.

 

Cal State L.A. had a 48-22 advantage in kills and hit at a .284 percentage while limiting the Otters to just .021. The Golden Eagles also had a 7-3 edge in blocks.

 

The Golden Eagles set the tone in the first set, hitting at a .400 percentage with 15 kills in 30 attacks, while the Otters hit at a negative .111 with five kills and eight errors in 27 swings. Cal State L.A. also hit at a nifty .324 percentage in the second set to take control of the match.

 

The Golden Eagles came out on fire and opened up a 21-8 lead in the opening set following a back-to-back kills from Cizova and a block by Cizova and Mary Laupepa. The Golden Eagles eventually closed out the set on a kill by Laupepa.

 

The Golden Eagles trailed in the second set, 13-12, but got a kill from Laupepa and four straight kills by Hamilton to open up a 17-13 lead. After a kill by Fall made it 22-17, Cal State L.A. closed out the set with a kill by Cizova, a block by Laupepa and Tuladhar and a kill by Laupepa.

 

Cal State L.A. opened up a 15-10 lead in the final set and was able to prevent Cal State Monterey Bay from making any extended runs to get back into the contest. A block by Mora and Sade Greene boosted the lead to 23-18, a kill by Gonzalez made it 24-19 and, after the Otters staved off two match points, a kill by Cizova ended the contest.

 

Cal State L.A. will play three matches next week, beginning with a road contest at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Tuesday. The week will conclude with home matches on Friday and Saturday against Cal State East Bay and UC San Diego.