TURLOCK, Calif. – The San Francisco State women's volleyball team received double-digit kills from three players, including a season-high tying 27 from junior
Beth Perkins (Woodland, California), en route to a four-set triumph (25-18, 24-26, 25-20, 25-16) over Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday in Turlock, Calif.
With the win, the Gators broke a two-match losing skid to improve to 11-8 on the year and 4-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Warriors were defeated for the 12th time in 13 decisions to fall to 4-16 overall and 1-9 in league action.
"Defensively, Stanislaus put early pressure on us and played very well on their home court," said SF State head coach Michelle Patton. "We were able to make a few adjustments, and we began making some great plays defensively late in the match. We have been concentrating all week on playing well at the end of games and we did a great job in game four tonight."
In the opening set, SF State fell behind early, 9-6, before knotting the score on consecutive kills by freshman
Kyle Lamet (Benicia, California, Carondelet HS) and junior
Kelly Burke (Redwood City, California, Sequoia) followed by a Lamet service ace. SF State then went ahead for good at 16-15 on a kill by Perkins as part of a 10-3 outburst to close out the frame.
The Gators carried that momentum into the second stanza and appeared to be in control after building a 17-13 cushion. Following a Warrior timeout, the home team battled back and took its first lead of the set at 22-21 on an attack error by freshman
Mary Maiocco (Bakersfield, California, Bakersfield HS). After the two sides traded scores during the next five serves, CSUS captured the set on consecutive kills by Victoria Costa and Nicki Brown.
It was more of the same in the third set as the Gators led throughout, only to see the Warriors fight back. With SF State up by a 21-16 count, CSUS made things interesting by reeling off four straight points to pull within 21-20. The Warriors self-destructed as this juncture, however, committing three errors, while Perkins added a kill to give the Gators the requisite scores to claim the set.
SF State was all business in the fourth and final frame, methodically building on a slim 4-3 margin to go up 20-14, which effectively put the match out of reach. Two kills from Perkins and a setting error by CSUS' Brown sealed the deal.
After their offense was held in check by Chico State on Friday, the Gators came alive against the Warriors, outhitting their hosts .250-.148, while owning a 62-49 advantage in kills. In addition to Perkins' heroics, SF State received 10 kills apiece from Lamet and Burke, with the latter also tying a season-high. Fueling the attack was Maiocco, who posted a season-high 51 assists, while freshman
Christina Johnson (Wildomar, California, Elsinore HS) provided the defensive support with 28 digs.
The Gators will resume their road stretch next weekend when they head south to face Cal State San Bernardino on Friday Oct. 17, followed by a date with Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday, Oct. 18. Both matches are slated to begin at 7 p.m.
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