SAN DIEGO -- Cal State LA's volleyball team found itself on the short end of a pair of five-set battles Friday against top NCAA Division II West Region opponents on the second day of Point Loma's Seaside Invitational.

The Golden Eagles fell to a red-hot Simon Fraser squad, 24-26, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-6, in its opening match of the day and then fell to Azusa Pacific in five sets later Friday night in a match that didn't end until after 11 p.m. The Golden Eagles battled back to force a fifth set in that one before Azusa Pacific pulled out a 25-15, 26-28, 25-22, 22-25, 16-14 win. Cal State LA (1-2) has played three five-set matches to open the season.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Simon Fraser and had the best chance at pulling out the match in a very close fourth set. Simon Fraser (3-0), though, closed the frame with a strong run and never looked back in the fifth set.

Karla Santos led the Golden Eagles once again with 18 kills and 24 digs, while Emily Elliott had 17 kills, nine digs and three blocks. Ashley Dittmann added 14 kills and 10 digs.

Brooke Dexter had a match-high 20 kills to lead Simon Fraser (3-0), which has enjoyed a tremendous run in the tournament so far. Simon Fraser has posted a three-set win over Azusa Pacific, a four-set win over defending national champion Cal State San Bernardino and the five-set win over Cal State LA on Friday. All three opponents were 2019 NCAA Tournament participants.

Simon Fraser had a 63-57 advantage in kills and a 9-6 edge in blocks. Simon Fraser also had a narrow 75-71 edge in digs.

Jeshmarie Suarez had 14 digs and five set assists for the Golden Eagles, while Jaden Grova had 41 set assists, 14 digs and two aces.

The Golden Eagles prevailed in a thrilling opening set. After kills by Dittman and Elliott gave the Golden Eagles a 24-21 lead, Simon Fraser rallied to tie it before a service error and attack error gave the Golden Eagles the set.

The Golden Eagles fell behind 10-6 in the second set, but rallied for six straight points to take a 12-10 lead and get back into the frame. A kill by Grova and two straight kills by Santos gave the Golden Eagles a 20-18 lead and they led the rest of the way. A kill by Elliott and a service ace by Grova made it 23-19 and a kill by Elliott eventually ended the set.

After dropping the third set, Cal State LA took a 19-18 lead in the fourth set after two kills by Santos and an attack error. A kill by Dittman tied it at 21-21 before Simon Fraser scored the next two points and maintained its edge. A block by Grova and Victoria Duarte staved off one set point, but Simon Fraser evened the match after a kill by Hanna Kolof.

Cal State LA  fell behind by margins of 4-1, 7-2 and 9-3 in the final set and never recovered.

The Golden Eagles battled back twice after being a set down against Azusa Pacific to force a deciding fifth set. After dropping the opening frame, the Golden Eagles prevailed in a marathon second set, 28-26. The Golden Eagles moved to set point at 24-22, but Azusa Pacific staved off four set points, the final time after a kill by Elliott had made it 26-25. After the Cougars tied it at 26-26, an error and a kill by Alejandra Negron evened the match.

Cal State LA led, 18-15, in the third set, but the Cougars rallied back. Kills by Santos and Daisy Crenshaw tied the set at 21-21 and 22-22, but Azusa Pacific won the final three points to take the set.

The Golden Eagles took the fourth set, 25-22, before falling in the fifth, 16-14. 

Further details will become available Saturday morning. Computer issues disrupted the stats following the third set on Friday and final stats were unavailable.

Cal State LA will conclude tournament play on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Regis.