LOS ANGELES – Cal State LA's women's volleyball team had to rally – and then hang on – for an important California Collegiate Athletic Association win over Cal State San Marcos.
 
The Golden Eagles rallied from a 2-1 deficit in sets and then almost saw a big lead in the fifth and deciding set slip away before holding for a 25-15, 23-25, 18-25, 25-20, 15-13, Tuesday night in the University Gym. Cal State LA (13-6, 9-2 CCAA) retains its lead in the CCAA South Division and stays tied with North Division-leading Chico State for the best record in conference play.
 
Alma Serna had 20 kills and seven blocks to lead Cal State LA, while Taylor Kushner had 14 kills and three blocks. JamieAnn Bero had 12 kills and four blocks.
 
Cal State San Marcos (12-8, 5-6 CCAA) was led by Madi Anderson and Brooke Butler, who had 13 kills each. Maddy Newcombe had 11 kills.
 
Cal State LA had a 65-52 advantage in kills and a 13-8 edge in blocks, but struggled from the service line with only four aces and 11 errors. Cal State San Marcos had seven aces and seven errors, including one that ended the match.
 
Daisy Portillo had nine kills and four blocks for the Golden Eagles, while Kelsey Molnar had 55 set assists, three service aces and 17 digs. Chloe Clancy had a team-high 19 digs, while Lauren Gomez had seven kills and 16 digs.
 
Serna got the Golden Eagles off to a sensational start with eight kills in nine swings in the opening set. Portillo had five kills in the first set as the Golden Eagles won decisively.
 
Things turned in the second set when Cal State San Marcos rallied to even the set. Cal State LA had a 22-20 lead after a kill by Bero and still led 23-22 after a kill by Kushner. A service error tied the set and Cal State San Marcos got a block by Newcombe and a kill by Anderson to win it.
 
The Cougars kept their momentum after the break and took the third set as well. Cal State LA trailed for almost the entire set, but had a brief 16-15 lead after a kill by Kushner. The Cougars then scored the next four points and never looked back to take the set, 25-18.
 
Cal State LA trailed early in the fourth set before getting a kill by Gomez, a block by Kushner and Serna, a kill by Kushner and an attack error to take a 13-11 lead. Cal State LA still held a slim 19-17 lead before a kill by Bero and ace by Molnar extended the lead. A kill by Bero got the Golden Eagles to set point at 24-20 and a kill by Serna sent the match to a fifth set.
 
Cal State LA fell behind 4-1 early in the fifth, but scored seven straight points, six of them during a strong serving run by Gomez to take an 8-4 lead. The Golden Eagles to back-to-back kills by Bero and an attack error by the Cougars got Cal State LA to match point at 14-7. A Cal State LA serving error started the Cougars on a strong run behind the serving of Aleese Wheaton before a serving error ended the match.

Cal State LA will return to action on Friday with a road match at Cal State San Bernardino.