LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's volleyball team, the defending national champions, took the first end of a home-and-home series with travel partner Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday in a match that entertained to the very end.

The No. 20 Golden Eagles were headed for a three-set sweep, only to see the Toros mount a spirited comeback that ultimately fell short in Cal State LA's 25-23, 25-15, 32-30 California Collegiate Athletic Association victory. Cal State LA (11-5, 6-3 CCAA) opened up a 23-17 lead in the third set, but the Toros (6-11, 3-6 CCAA) scored the next seven points and had four set points before the Golden Eagles were finally able to end the contest.

Emily Elliott had a match-high 18 kills for the Golden Eagles, while Samarah DaCoud had 15 kills and hit at a .448 hitting percentage. Zuhal Cetin had nine kills and eight digs and hit at a .412 percentage for the Golden Eagles.

Kayly Pau, Ava Hurry and Camryn Perdue had eight kills each to lead the Toros.

Arielle Chandler had 24 set assists and two aces for the Golden Eagles, while Ashlyn Beaver had 18 set assists and three kills. Rachel Lowe had five kills and four blocks.

Cal State LA had a 52-36 edge in kills and hit at a .361 percentage to .214 for the Toros. The Golden Eagles had a 10-5 advantage in blocks. Both teams had seven aces.

The Golden Eagles opened up a 14-7 lead in the opening set after kills by Elliott and Lowe, but the Toros got to within 24-23 before a kill by Elliott ended the set.

Cal State LA got a kill from Elliott and three straight from DaCoud to open up a 23-14 lead in the second set and a kill by Elliott and an attack error finished the frame.

The Golden Eagles then opened up a 23-17 lead in the third set before the Toros stormed back to make it a thrilling finale. An attack error gave the Toros their first set point before a kill by DaCoud tied it at 24-24. A block by Lowe and Elliott saved the second set point for the Golden Eagles and a kill by Elliott gave them their first match points at 26-25. A kill by Cetin gave the Golden Eagles a second match point, but a service error and a kill by Hurry gave the Toros their third set point. A kill by Elliott tied it at 28-28, but an attack error gave the Toros their fourth set point.

Back-to-back kills from DaCoud got the Golden Eagles to match point at 30-29, but a kill by Hurry evened the set once again.

This time, though, kills by DaCoud and Elliott finally ended the match.

Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills will meet again in the Torodome on Saturday at 5 p.m.