Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team found itself in an early hole and never could recover in its match against Azusa Pacific in the Cal State L.A./Cal Poly Pomona Invitational.
 
The Golden Eagles dropped the first two sets and Azusa Pacific rebounded from a third-set loss to beat Cal State L.A., 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 25-21, Friday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (1-4) was playing the final match of three in the Eagles Nest.
 
In earlier matches on Friday, Azusa Pacific beat Cal State Dominguez Hills, 25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 15-10 and Point Loma beat Cal State Dominguez Hills, 25-23, 25-18, 18-25, 20-25, 15-11.
 
Marquis Mora had 17 kills and seven blocks for the Golden Eagles, while Kymberly Silveyra had 12 kills and 12 digs. Iona Lofrano and Sukhjit Athwal had 10 kills each.
 
Jackie Landers had a match-high 21 kills for Azusa Pacific (8-1). Mattie Shelford had 16 kills.
 
Cal State L.A. had a slim 54-53 edge in kills and outhit Azusa Pacific, .227-.147. The Golden Eagles also had a 13-7 advantage in blocks. Cal State L.A., though, struggled mightily at the service line, committing 15 service errors with only two aces. Azusa Pacific also had two aces, but just five errors.

Shea Hamilton had 38 set assists, while April Reyes had a match-high 24 digs.
 
Cal State L.A. fell behind in each of the first two sets and could not rebound. The Golden Eagles were down 19-13 in the opening set before pulling to within 23-21 on a kill by Athwal. The Golden Eagles got within two points again at 24-22 after a kill by Silveyra, but a kill by Landers ended the set.
 
The Golden Eagles trailed again in the second set and just couldn't get back into it. Cal State L.A. pulled to within 21-20 after a kill by Silveyra, 22-21 after a kill by Lofrano, 23-22 after a block by Mora and Lofrano and 24-23 after an Azusa Pacific service error. Cal State L.A., though, returned the favor with a service error on set point at the Cougars led, 2-0.
 
Cal State L.A. played its best volleyball in the third set, racing to a 20-11 lead and never looking back. The Golden Eagles got to set point at 24-17 after a kill by Mora and ended the set on another kill by Mora.
 
The fourth set went much like the first two with Azusa Pacific taking an early lead and keeping the Golden Eagles at bay. Cal State L.A. got as close as 17-16 after a kill by Silveyra and 19-18 after a kill by Athwal, but Azusa Pacific scored the next three points and went on to close out the match.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday when the Golden Eagles face Point Loma at noon. The Golden Eagles will also face Cal State San Marcos in the tourney finale at 7 p.m.