Box Score LOS ANGELES – Cal State LA's women's volleyball team held on for a three-set sweep in a big California Collegiate Athletic Association match against UC San Diego, but not without a few anxious moments.
The Golden Eagles needed seven match points before finally subduing the Tritons, 25-22, 26-24, 25-23, Tuesday night in the University Gym. Cal State LA (11-6, 7-2 CCAA) secured a season split with the Tritons (9-7, 6-2 CCAA) and took over the lead in the CCAA South Division. The Golden Eagles won for the sixth time in their last seven matches and for the seventh time in their last nine contests.
Taylor Kushner had a strong match for the Golden Eagles with a team-high 12 kills, six digs and two blocks.
Lauren Gomez had nine kills and a team-high 17 digs and
JamieAnn Bero had eight kills.
Meagan Wright had 12 kills for UC San Diego, while Rebecca Seaberry had eight kills and two blocks.
Daisy Portillo contributed seven kills and two blocks for the Golden Eagles.
Kelsey Molnar had 35 set assists, 12 digs and four service aces. She also had four kills, including the one that finished the match.
Chloe Clancy had 15 digs and
Mia Alcaraz had a team-high five blocks.
Cal State LA had a 46-33 edge in kills and hit at a .162 percentage to .148 for the Tritons. UC San Diego had a 9.5 – 5.0 advantage in blocks. Cal State LA also served well with six service aces and five errors.
The Golden Eagles scored the first five points of the match behind some outstanding serving from Molnar and Cal State LA never trailed in the opening set. Cal State LA took a 15-6 lead after a kill by Molnar and was able to hold off a UC San Diego rally. The Tritons got to within 22-19, but kills by Bero and Portillo got the Golden Eagles to set point. UC San Diego saved three set points, but a kill by
Erie Williams ended the frame.
UC San Diego jumped out to a big early lead in the second set, taking an 8-2 advantage after an ace by Alyson Penrose. Cal State LA rallied and took a 14-12 lead following a kill by Kushner. The set was tied at 23-23 before a block by Kushner and Alcaraz gave the Golden Eagles a set point at 24-23. UC San Diego tied it after an attack error, but a kill by Kushner and a service ace by Clancy gave the Golden Eagles the set.
Cal State LA then opened up a 18-11 lead after a kill by Kushner and got to match point at 24-17 following a block by Alcaraz and Molnar. The Tritons scored the next six points to make it 24-23 before a kill by Molnar finally ended the match.
Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a match at Cal State Dominguez Hills beginning at 6 p.m.
