ROHNERT PARK -- Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team made sure it held a big lead over a formidable opponent Thursday night.
The Golden Eagles fought off a comeback bid by Sonoma State and beat the Seawolves, 25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 25-21 Thursday in the Wolves' Den. Cal State L.A. (15-10, 12-9 CCAA) completed a season-sweep of the Seawolves. The Golden Eagles also beat Sonoma State in four sets earlier in the season.
Cal State L.A., ranked ninth in the NCAA Division II West Region, also kept alive its postseason aspirations. Eight teams from the West Region will qualify for the 64-team playoffs. The field will be announced on Sunday. The Golden Eagles complete the regular season on Saturday with a match at Humboldt State.
Zuzana Cizova had a tremendous match for the Golden Eagles, pounding out a team-high 21 kills.
Marquis Mora had 13 kills and eight blocks,
Natalia Gonzalez had 12 kills and
Chelsea Hamilton had 11 kills.
Amrita Tuladhar had 46 set assists and 17 digs, while
Stefanie Gay had a team-high 24 digs.
Cal State L.A. had a 64-47 advantage in kills, while Sonoma State had a 14-12 edge in blocks.
The Golden Eagles fell behind the opening set, 16-11, but rallied strongly to pull even at 17-17. Cal State L.A. trailed, 22-21, but used a kill by Mora, a kill by Cizova, a kill by Tuladhar and an ace by
Alexandra Risko to take the set, 25-22.
Cal State L.A. got kills from
Mary Laupepa, Hamilton and Gonzalez to take a 14-10 lead in the second set and the Golden Eagles never looked back. Cal State L.A. built its largest lead at 19-12 and then got a pair of kills by Cizova, one from Hamilton and the final one on set point from Gonzalez to take a 2-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles, who were still smarting after their five-set loss to UC San Diego on Saturday, dropped the third set to Sonoma State. Cal State L.A. held a 13-10 lead, but Sonoma State went on a 7-1 run to take control of the set.
Cal State L.A., though, played well in the fourth set to complete the win. A kill by Gonzalez and back-to-back blocks by Mora and Cizova broke a 17-17 tie and gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good. Cal State L.A. got kills by Mora, Cizova and Tuladhar to take a 23-18 lead, but then had to hold off one last Sonoma State rally. The Seawolves pulled to within 23-21, but, after a Cal State L.A. timeout, the Golden Eagles got kills by Cizova and Hamilton to close out the match.
Cal State L.A. will conclude its regular season with a match at Humboldt State on Saturday.
