GOLDEN, COLO – Cal State LA's women's volleyball team started play in the Oredigger Volleyball Classic with an impressive four-set win over the University of Indianapolis early Friday, but had to settle for a split on opening day.
The Golden Eagles played a solid opening match against Indianapolis and posted a 25-16, 20-25, 25-19, 25-17 win at the Colorado School of Mines before falling to Western State of Colorado, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23 in their second match of the day. Indianapolis received votes in the national AVCA preseason poll.
Lauren Gomez was just one kill shy of her career high with 16 kills and a hitting percentage of .353 in the win over Indianapolis.
Taylor Kushner had nine kills, four digs and three blocks and a .333 hitting percentage, while
Alma Serna, making her Cal State LA debut with nine kills, six digs and three blocks.
Returning All-American
JamieAnn Bero had eight kills and four blocks, while
Kelsey Molnar had 37 set assists, five service aces and 18 digs.
Cynthia Giron had a career-high 17 digs and three assists.
Cal State LA scored the first six points of the match and rolled to take the opening set. A kill by Kushner got the Golden Eagles to a 23-15 advantage and kills by Bero and Serna closed out the set.
Indianapolis held off a late Cal State LA charge in the second set to even the match. Kills by Gomez and Serna pulled the Golden Eagles to within 21-20, but Indianapolis scored the final four points of the set.
Cal State LA opened up an 18-10 lead in the third set to take control of the match. The Golden Eagles saw the lead cut to 23-18, but a kill by Gomez got the Golden Eagles to set point and a kill by
Sifa Faaiu closed out the set.
Cal State LA then jumped out to a 16-7 lead in the fourth set after a Bero kill and never looked back. A block by Molnar and
Erie Williams earned match point for the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles were unable to duplicate their success later Friday. Cal State LA hit just .149 while falling in three close sets. Western State had a 39-33 edge in kills, both teams had four blocks and Cal State LA struggled from the service line with four aces and nine errors.
Bero had 13 kills and a .450 hitting percentage, while Kushner had seven kills and a .333 hitting percentage. Williams added six kills.
Cal State LA fell into an 11-4 hole in the opening set, but battled back to within 24-23 after a block by Serna and
Lexi Resch. Western State closed out the set with a kill by Tori Gaherty.
The Golden Eagles battled back to tie the second set at 22-22 after a kill by Gomez, but Western State captured the final three points of the set to take a 2-0 lead.
Cal State LA had a 14-9 lead in the third set following an ace by Molnar and a kill by Resch kept the lead at 21-18 before Western State rallied to take a 23-22 advantage. A kill by Williams got the Golden Eagles even at 23-23, but a pair of attack errors ended the match.
The Golden Eagles will face Nebraska Kearney and the host Colorado School of Mines on Saturday.
