CCAA Postmatch Press Conference

TURLOCK -- Cal State LA's women's volleyball team got off to a strong start in the 2018 California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships.

The Golden Eagles, the No. 3 seed from the CCAA South Division, upended Cal State Monterey Bay, the No. 2 seed from the North Division, 25-23, 25-22, 25-14, Thursday night in a first-round match at Stanislaus State's Ed and Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena. Cal State LA (22-4) advances to the conference semi-finals on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday's match was a battle between two of the top eight-ranked teams in the NCAA West Region in Wednesday's official NCAA poll. The Golden Eagles were No. 3 entering the tourney, while Cal State Monterey Bay (16-10) was No. 8.

Cal State LA had a 50-31 edge in kills and hit at a .254 percentage to .167 for the Otters. The Otters had a 4-2 advantage in blocks, while Cal State LA had five service aces to three for the Otters.

Mickayla Sherman, the CCAA's Newcomer of the Year, led a balanced Cal State LA attack with 13 kills and 13 digs, while Daisy Crenshaw had 12 kills. Alejandra Negron also had an outstanding match with 11 kills and six digs and some strong serving.

Baylie Pierson had eight kills and one block for the Otters.

Kelsey Molnar had 33 set assists, four kills and 12 digs, while Karla Santos had six kills and a team-high 16 digs. Jeshmarie Suarez had 15 digs.

The Golden Eagles trailed by as many as four points in the opening set and were down, 20-16, before scoring six straight points to take the lead. Three kills by Crenshaw around a kill by Sherman evened the set at 20-20 and an attack error and another kill by Crenshaw put the Golden Eagles ahead, 22-20. Cal State Monterey Bay tied it at 22-22 and 23-23, but kills by Sherman and Molnar gave the Golden Eagles the first set.

Cal State LA opened up a 14-9 lead in the second set, but the Otters stormed back to tie it at 16-16. The Golden Eagles responded by scoring the next three points on a block by Sherman and Daisia LaBrie and two kills by Sherman put the Golden Eagles ahead for good. Cal State LA got to set point at 24-22 after a kill by Santos and won the set on an attack error.

The Golden Eagles raced out to a 9-4 lead in the third set and never looked back. Two kills by Sherman and an ace by Negron gave the Golden Eagles a 22-11 lead and back-to-back kills by Santos ended the match.

Cal State LA will face the winner of the Cal State San Bernardino-San Francisco State match scheduled to begin at 7:35 p.m.