SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco State women's volleyball team gave the No. 1-ranked team in the nation all it could handle on Saturday, but it wasn't enough as the Gators dropped a hard-fought decision to Cal State San Bernardino in four sets (22-25, 26-24, 17-25, 18-25) at the Main Gymnasium.  Despite a valiant effort, SF State was unable to avoid its second straight loss, falling to 6-4 on the season and 0-2 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.  The Coyotes, meanwhile, remain perfect at 9-0 overall and 2-0 in league play.

    "I thought we competed well against a very tough opponent,” said Gator head coach Michelle Patton.  “We wanted to get our middles involved offensively and we did a great job at that tonight.

     “Our players also responded well to some defensive adjustments we needed to make.”

     Trailing 14-8 in the opening frame, the plucky Gators went on a 10-4 run to pull even at 18-18.  Following a timeout, CSUSB regrouped to squelch SF State's rally as the visitors claimed the set and an early 1-0 lead.  The Gators also battled the Coyotes in the second stanza, scoring the last four points to erase a 24-22 deficit as freshman Mary Maiocco (Bakersfield, Calif.) served up two straight aces to knot the score at one set apiece.  Unfortunately, the Gators were unable to sustain the momentum after the intermission as CSUSB took the final two sets for the victory.   

      Freshman Halimah Oswald (San Francisco, Calif./Waldorf HS) paced SF State with nine kills and three block assists, while fellow classmate Brittany Powell hit .471 for the match on eight kills of her own. In addition, Maiocco posted her second-highest assist total of the season with 34 helpers, while freshman Christina Johnson (Wildomar, Calif.) tallied 20 digs.