SEASIDE -- Emily Elliott is Cal State LA's new career leader in kills and the Golden Eagles needed every one of them Friday night in a tight five-set California Collegiate Athletic Association match at Cal State Monterey Bay.

Elliott recorded a match-high 29 kills, giving her 1,652 for her unmatched Cal State LA career. She surpassed Jamie Griffith, who had 1,646 kills from 1996-2000. Elliott tied the record with a kill that gave the Golden Eagles a 22-14 lead in the fourth set and then broke it one point later, giving the Golden Eagles a 23-14 edge.

No. 19 Cal State LA (8-4, 3-2 CCAA) dropped the first two sets before roaring back for a tougher-than-expected 23-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-15, 15-7 victory over the Otters. Cal State LA has played three five-set matches in its last four contests

Elliott, who set a single-season program records in kills, points and service aces last year while leading the Golden Eagles to their first-ever national championship, is off to a torrid start this season. She already has 264 kills in 12 matches this season and is averaging 5.28 kills and 6.16 points per set. Both are better than her per-set averages in 2023. She led the nation in points per set in 2023 with 5.69 per frame.

Elliott entered the weekend second in the nation in points per set and third in kills per set.

She had nine kills through the first two sets and the Golden Eagles struggled mightily against the upset-minded Otters (1-11, 0-5 CCAA). Elliott had 20 of her kills over the final three sets, including nine in the pivotal third set. She had six more in the fourth and five more in the fifth, including, fittingly, the final two points of the match.

Elliott hit at a .361 percentage and also contributed four service aces in another signature performance.

Samarah DaCoud had 11 kills and a team-high 13 digs, while Sophia Bernard had a season-high six kills in the final three sets.

Jackie Wahl had a team-high 13 kills for Cal State Monterey Bay, while Brenna Duggan had 10.

Arielle Chandler had 43 set assists and three service aces, while Madison Clark had a team-high three blocks, including two solos.

After dropping the first two sets, the Golden Eagles finally got un-tracked in the third set, but they had to stave off a serious challenge from the Otters to make it to a fourth set. Behind a strong serving run rom Brooke Paige, the Golden Eagles opened up a 23-14 lead, only to see the Otters fight back with six straight points to pull to within 23-20. Kills by DaCoud and Elliott eventually ended the set.

Cal State LA opened up a quick 11-3 lead in the fourth set and led comfortably throughout. Kills by Bernard and Haley Roundtree ended the set.

The Golden Eagles erased a 5-4 deficit with a kill by Roundtree, a block by Clark,an attack error and an ace by Paige put the Golden Eagles ahead for good. The Golden Eagles scored five straight points behind two kills each from DaCoud and Elliott and an ace by Chandler to make it 13-6 and, after a point by Cal State Monterey Bay, two kills by Elliott ended the match.