Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team came up short against a nationally-ranked team for the second straight night on Saturday in the Eagles Nest.

 

The Golden Eagles certainly had their opportunities to win on Saturday, but No. 12 UC San Diego was able to prevail in a 22-25, 25-21, 29-27, 25-20 decision in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match. Cal State L.A. (4-5, 1-3 CCAA) dropped its fourth straight match and it will most likely look back on Saturday's contest as a missed opportunity.

 

Cal State L.A. had leads in all four sets and held a pair of set points in the third set before falling. The Golden Eagles had another lead midway through the fourth set before UC San Diego took control late and ended the contest.

 

Chelsea Hamilton had 14 kills and 12 digs for the Golden Eagles, while Marquis Mora had nine kills and five blocks and Natalia Gonzalez had eight kills and four blocks.

 

UC San Diego got a match-high 20 kills from Hillary Williamson and 10 kills from Lauren Demos. The Tritons (8-0, 4-0 CCAA) had a 58-48 advantage in kills and hit at a .165 percentage to .153 for the Golden Eagles. Cal State L.A. had a 9.5 – 7 advantage in blocks and had more aces, 7-5. The Golden Eagles, though, also hurt themselves with 10 service errors.

 

Cal State L.A. got off to a sizzling start behind the serving of Hamilton, opening up early leads of 5-0 and 8-2. The Golden Eagles controlled play in the opening set, although UC San Diego did briefly tie the set at 21-21 after a Cal State L.A. attack error. The Golden Eagles quickly regrouped, though, with kills by Mora and Kaylynne Taeatafa to take the lead back for good. A kill by Mora and block by Mora ended the first set.

 

The Golden Eagles led as late as 12-11 in the second set after a kill by Gonzalez, but UC San Diego went on a 10-4 run to take control. The Golden Eagles pulled to within 23-21 after a kill by Reanna Hill and an ace by Colby Joseph, but UC San Diego got to set point after a ball-handling error and took the set on a kill by Demos.

 

The third set loomed large as both teams fought off set points. UC San Diego had two set points at 24-22, but an attack error and a kill by Gonzalez tied things up. A block by Taeatafa and Mora staved off another set point and a kill by Alexandra Risko gave the Golden Eagles a set point at 26-25. That bid ended on a service error. A UC San Diego attack error gave the Golden Eagles another set point, but a kill by Katie Condon tied it at 27-27 and UC San Diego used an attack error and a kill by Williamson to close out the set.

 

Cal State L.A. opened up a 13-10 lead in the final set after a kill by Hamilton and a UC San Diego attack error and led for the final time at 14-13 after a kill by Samantha Potter. UC San Diego, though, scored the next three points to take the lead for good. After UC San Diego built leads as large as five points, the Golden Eagles made one final push and closed to within 23-20 after a block by Potter and Mora. UC San Diego, though, scored the final two points on kills to end the match.

 

Cal State L.A. will return to action next Thursday with a road match at Humboldt State.