Box Score SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State L.A.'s women's volleyball team bounced back from a sub-par performance on Friday with a much better performance on Saturday, only to endure a heartbreaking defeat to perennial California Collegiate Athletic Association power Cal State San Bernardino.
The Golden Eagles had the upper hand early in a battle between the two nationally-ranked programs, but No. 17 Cal State San Bernardino roared back to edge No. 25 Cal State L.A., 21-25, 23-25, 25-19, 25-22, 15-12 Saturday night in Cousoullis Arena. Cal State L.A. (10-4, 3-3 CCAA) dropped its third straight match, but gave Cal State San Bernardino (11-2, 4-1 CCAA) all it could handle.
Iona Lofrano had 26 kills to lead the Golden Eagles, while
JamieAnn Bero had 15 kills and two blocks.
Angela Thurmond had 11 kills and three blocks and
Taylor Kushner had nine kills and 12 digs.
Alexandra Torline had 22 kills for Cal State San Bernardino, while Brenna McIntosh had 17 kills and three blocks. Malika O'Brien and Lauren Nicholson had 11 kills each.
Kelsey Molnar had 59 set assists and two aces, while
Chloe Clancy had 23 digs and
Makayla Taylor had 14 digs.
Cal State L.A. had a 69-66 edge in kills, while Cal State San Bernardino had a 9-5 advantage in blocks. The Golden Eagles had a 5-3 edge in aces and Cal State San Bernardino won despite 12 service errors to just four for the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles started well and took the first two sets. In the opener, a kill by Thurmond gave the Golden Eagles an 18-12 lead. A Cal State San Bernardino attack error got the Golden Eagles to set point at 24-18 and after a pair of kills by Nicholson and one by O'Brien made it 24-21, the Golden Eagles closed out the set on a service error.
Cal State L.A. opened up a 17-12 advantage in the second set after a kill by Lofrano, but the Coyotes battled back to even the frame at 22-22. A kill by Bero and an attack error got the Golden Eagles to set point at 24-22 and, after a kill by Torline made it 24-23, a ball-handling error gave the set to the Golden Eagles.
Cal State San Bernardino led nearly the entire way in the third set and a block by Solis and O'Brien ended the set at 25-19.
The fourth set was tight the entire way. The Golden Eagles took a 21-20 lead after a kill by Kushner, but three straight attack errors gave the Coyotes the lead for good. A McIntosh kill got the Coyotes to set point at 24-21. After a kill by Thurmond made it 24-22, a bad set ended the set.
The fifth set was also close throughout. After a kill by
Lauren Gomez tied it at 6-6 for the Golden Eagles, the Coyotes got back-to-back kills by Solis to take an 8-6 lead. A solo block by Thurmond tied it for a final time at 9-9, but two straight Cal State L.A. attack errors gave the Coyotes the lead for good. A kill by McIntosh got the Coyotes to match point at 14-11. A kill by Kushner made it 14-12, but a kill by Torline gave the match to the Coyotes.
Cal State L.A. will return to action on Tuesday with a home match against Cal State Monterey Bay beginning at 5 p.m.
