The Golden Eagles took a 2-1 lead in sets over Dixie State College, only to see the Red Storm rally for a 17-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 16-14 victory Saturday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (3-1) had won its first three matches in the tourney, but was couldn't overcome a .113 hitting percentage that included 37 attack errors.
The Golden Eagles rallied from an early deficit in the fifth and deciding set to tie the frame at 14-14. Two straight attack errors, though, ended the match and enabled Dixie State (3-1) to complete a sweep of matches on Saturday. The Red Storm beat Simon Fraser in four sets in the first contest of the day.
Brita Noble had 13 kills to lead three Red Storm players in double figures. Madisyn Fitzgerald had 11 kills and Shannon Young added 10 kills.
Cal State L.A. had a 12-8 edge in service aces, but also committed 14 serving errors. Dixie State outhit Cal State L.A., .146-.113 and had a 10-7 advantage in blocks.
The Golden Eagles started well in captured the opening set. Back-to-back kills by Gonzalez completed the opening set for the Golden Eagles.
Dixie State, though, got right back into the match in the second set. The Red Storm raced to a 19-10 lead and then held off a late Cal State L.A. rally. The Golden Eagles got back-to-back kills from Mora and a service ace by
Alexandra Risko to pull to within 22-21, but the Golden Eagles couldn't get any closer. A block by Kimee Clark and Fitzgerald ended the set for the Red Storm.
Cal State L.A. bounced back to take the third set, 25-20. The Golden Eagles trailed as late as 15-14, but a kill by
Zuzana Cizova and an ace by Cizova gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good.
Dixie State, though, evened things up by leading almost from start to finish in the fourth set. The Red Storm led, 20-16, before the Golden Eagles battled back to even the frame at 23-23. Dixie State got a kill from Fitzgerald and a service ace by Fitzgerald to send the match into a fifth set.
The Red Storm scored five straight points to erase a 4-1 deficit in the fifth set and took a 13-10 lead after a kill by Brita Noble. The Golden Eagles closed to within 13-12 after a kill by Mora and an attack error and Dixie State got a kill from Fitzgerald to take a 14-12 edge. An attack error and a block by Mora and Gonzalez tied it at 14-14, but two straight errors by the Golden Eagles ended the match.
Cal State L.A. will return to action next Friday with a California Collegiate Athletic Association opener against Chico State.
