LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's volleyball team made sure it completed its task at hand Saturday night in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match against Stanislaus State.
The Golden Eagles used an efficient offensive attack to sweep past the Warriors, 25-17, 25-21, 25-19, in University Gym. Cal State LA (20-1, 12-1 CCAA) hit at a .356 clip to overcome a shaky night of serving against Stanislaus State (13-9, 6-8 CCAA).
Cal State LA, ranked 10th in the nation, equals the 20-1 record through 21 matches from the 2006 team for the second-best 21-match start in program history.
The victory sets up a pair of huge matches for the Golden Eagles next week when they face Cal Poly Pomona on Friday in Pomona and Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday in San Bernardino with first place in the CCAA South Division at stake. All three teams have already qualified for the CCAA Championship Tournament.
Cal State LA had a 49-24 edge in kills and hit at a .356 percentage to just .057 for the Warriors. Both teams had seven blocks. Cal State LA had three aces, but a whopping 18 service errors in the three sets, while Stanislaus State had no aces and three errors.
Karla Santos had 12 kills and 10 digs and hit at a .435 percentage, while
Mickayla Sherman had 11 kills and hit at a .409 percentage.
Daisy Crenshaw had 10 kills and three blocks.
Ramey Gardner had seven kills and six digs for the Warriors.
Jeshmarie Suarez had a match-high 12 digs, while
Kelsey Molnar had 44 set assists, five digs and two blocks.
Alejandra Negron had eight kills and two blocks, while
Daisia LaBrie had seven kills and three blocks.
Cal State LA raced out to a 16-9 lead in the opening set after kills by Sherman and Santos and kept the lead the rest of the way. Stanislaus State cut it to 18-15, but a pair of kills by Santos and an attack error pushed the lead back to 21-15. Stanislaus State pulled to within 21-17, but a kill by Negron, an ace by Molnar and kills by Crenshaw and Negron closed out the set.
Cal State LA trailed early in the second set, 10-7 and was tied at 13-13 before taking the lead on a kill by LaBrie, a block by LaBrie and Molnar and a block by LaBrie and Santos. Stanislaus State rallied and pulled even at 18-18 and 19-19 before a kill by Sherman and a block by LaBrie and Sherman gave the Golden Eagles the lead for good. Kills by Sherman and Santos made it 23-20, a kill by Sherman got the Golden Eagles to set point and an attack error ended the set.
Cal State LA jumped out to a quick 14-7 lead in the final set and maintained an advantage the rest of the way. A kill by Santos made it 22-15 and, after the Warriors closed to within 22-19, the Golden Eagles got a kill from Negron, a block by Negron and Crenshaw and an attack error to end the match.
Cal State LA will return to action with a match at Cal Poly Pomona on Friday.