POSTMATCH INTERVIEW

SAN BERNARDINO -- Cal State LA's women's volleyball team got off to a sensational start in Thursday's California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship Tournament opener against Sonoma State, but the Golden Eagles were unable turn it into a victory.

The Golden Eagles overpowered the Seawolves in the first set, but the defending tournament champions stormed back for a 12-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-23 victory. Cal State LA (15-11) rallied from a 7-0 deficit in the fourth set and even took a 17-16 lead, but was unable to extend the match.

Alma Serna had 14 kills and four blocks and hit at a .435 percentage, while Lauren Gomez had 14 kills and 12 digs. Daisy Portillo had eight kills and Taylor Kushner had seven kills.

Kelsey McIntire had 12 kills and three blocks to lead Sonoma State (15-11). Olivia Schonewise and Rachel Andrews had 11 kills each, while Calan Seitz had 10 kills.

Kelsey Molnar had 38 set assists, three service aces, nine digs and two blocks for the Golden Eagles, while Chloe Clancy had a team-high 14 digs.

Sonoma State had a 52-48 advantage in kills and hit at a .219 clip to .212 for Cal State LA. The Golden Eagles had a 9-4 edge in blocks and a 6-5 advantage in service aces.

Cal State LA couldn't have asked for a better start, scoring the first four points of the match thanks to consecutive blocks from Serna and Kushner, an attack error and a kill by Serna. Sonoma State closed to within 9-8, but a kill by Bero and an ace by Gomez stopped the run. Cal State LA led by just three at 13-10, but scored the next nine points to take a 22-10 lead.. A block by Serna and Kushner, three aces by Molnar and kills by Serna and Portillo highlighted the run. An ace by Cynthia Giron completed the set.

Cal State LA led as late as 13-12 in the second set, but Sonoma State scored the next three points and led the rest of the way. A kill by JamieAnn Bero got the Golden Eagles to within 23-20, but Sonoma State scored the next two points to even the match.

The third set got away from the Golden Eagles after a block by Kushner pulled them to within 11-9. Sonoma State went on an 8-2 run to take a 19-11 lead and never looked back.

Things looked especially bleak for the Golden Eagles in the fourth set after Sonoma State scored the first seven points. Cal State LA, though, showed great resolve and battled back to eventually take the lead. Trailing 16-11, the Golden Eagles scored the next six points to take a 17-16 lead. Bero started the run with a kill and Clancy served for five consecutive points. A kill by Gomez tied the set and a kill by Kushner gave Cal State LA the lead.

Cal State LA then faced a 23-19 deficit, but kills by Gomez and Serna an attack error made it 23-22. A kill by Serna at 24-22 saved one match point, but a Sonoma State block ended the match.