HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Cal State LA's women's volleyball team put forth a tremendous effort Friday on an ideal beach day in Huntington Beach.

The Golden Eagles won a pair of thrilling three-set contests in a tight 3-2 loss to Vanguard on the sands at Magnolia Street. The Golden Eagles split the first two contests of the day and then one of the final three matches in a close call against the Lions (12-10).

Cal State LA (4-11) got its first win at No. 2 pairs in a tremendous battle between the team of Janessa Mata and Jessica Kaeka and Vanguard's Gabby Morrison and Kelly Cantu. Mata and Kaeka dropped a hotly-contested first set and then rallied for an exciting 20-22, 21-19, 20-18 victory.

Later, on the same court, Karla Santos and Alejandra Negron also pulled out an exciting three-set victory, this one at No. 1 pairs. Santos and Negron won the first set and then ultimately battled through three sets to outlast Vanguard's Kelli Dowell and Hannah Holder, 21-10, 21-23, 15-12. Santos and Negron posted their third victory in the past two days after beating teams from Cal State Northridge, Marymount California and Vanguard.

Cal State LA will conclude its season next Saturday at Concordia.

VANGUARD UNIVERSITY 3, CAL STATE LA 2
1. Karla Santos/Alejandra Negron (LA) def. Kelli Dowell/Hannah Holder (VU), 21-10, 21-23, 15-12
2. Janessa Mata/Jessica Kaeka (LA) def. Gabby Morrison/Kelly Cantu (VU), 20-22, 21-19, 20-18.
3. Dani Erdelatz/Brooke Wilsman (VU) def. Sifa Faaiu/Daisy Crenshaw (LA), 21-15, 21-11
4. Eliani Johnson/Charity Dennis (VU) def. Victoria Duarte/Jeshmarie Suarez (LA), 21-6, 21-13
5. Kayla Darm/Makenzie Mitchell (VU) def. Caitlyn Bato/Adriana Maldonado (LA), 21-13, 21-13