LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team saw its five-match winning streak come to an end Thursday night, and the Golden Eagles were left to wonder what might have been.
 
Cal State L.A. had a set point in the fourth set and was painfully close to another before Cal State San Bernardino closed out a 25-18, 20-25, 25-18, 26-24 win in front of a spirited crowd at the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (10-3, 8-2 CCAA) saw its California Collegiate Athletic Association lead sliced to just one-half game over idle Sonoma State, while eight-time defending champion Cal State San Bernardino (10-4, 7-3 CCAA) closed to within a game of the top spot.
 
Iona Lofrano had 15 kills to lead three Golden Eagles in double figures and also had 11 digs. Kymberly Silveyra had 13 kills and 12 digs and Loreal Carter had 13 kills and 10 digs.
 
Alexandra Torline had a match-high 22 kills for the Coyotes, while Tori May had 14 kills and four blocks. Brenna McIntosh added nine kills and six blocks.
 
The Golden Eagles rallied from a 17-10 deficit in the fourth set and held set point at 24-23 before a kill by Torline tied things up. Cal State L.A. then had the Coyotes scrambling after a strong kill attempt, but Ciara Richards was able to get the ball over to the Golden Eagles' side of the net. The ball fell untouched, near the sideline, unfortunately for the Golden Eagles. That gave the Coyotes a match point at 25-24 and a block by McIntosh and Kaitlyn Christner gave Cal State San Bernardino the win.
 
Cal State San Bernardino hit at a .367 percentage to .253 for the Golden Eagles and had a 63-56 edge in kills. The Coyotes also had a healthy 10-3 edge in blocks, while Cal State L.A. had nine service aces to three for the Coyotes.
 
JamieAnn Bero had nine kills and two blocks for Cal State L.A., while Kelsey Molnar had 43 set assists, two service aces and 11 digs.
 
The Golden Eagles started slowly and Cal State San Bernardino never trailed while winning the first set. Cal State L.A. finally got untracked in the second set and came on strong after trailing as late as 16-15. A service error and kills by Molnar and Lofrano opened up a 20-17 lead for Cal State L.A. and kills by Molnar and Silveyra and an attack error evened the match.
 
Cal State San Bernardino took the third set, 25-18, and moved out to a 17-10 lead in the fourth set before the Golden Eagles rallied. The Golden Eagles went on an 8-1 run to tie it and opened up a 22-20 lead after kills by Carter and Lofrano. A kill by Carter broke a 23-23 tie and gave the Golden Eagles a set point before Torline tied it with a kill. Cal State San Bernardino then got the set-saving play by Richards and the big block to end it.
 
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Friday with a home match against Humboldt State.