Santa Barbara, Calif.--- SF State's volleyball team won their fifth straight match in a row by winning both of their games at the Westmont College Invitational in Santa Barbara this afternoon.  The Gators came from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the host, Westmont College (6-4), in five sets and then swept all three sets from the Dominican University Penguins (0-2). 

            In their first of the tournament against the host, the Gators won in five sets 22-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-15, and 15-12 to win their fourth straight match.  In that match, Beth Perkins (Woodland, California, Mt. Hood Community College)led the Gators with 18 kills for a 26% hitting percentage while recording two service aces while Anne Heggli (Cool, California, Bear River) had 26 digs.  As a team, the Gators had 7 total blocks for the match.

            Then in the second match against the Penguins of Dominican, SF State won 32-30, 25-5, and 25-15 to improve to 5-1.  Kelly Burke (Redwood City, California, Canada College) paced the Gators with 10 kills while Mary Maiocco (Bakersfield, California, Bakersfield HS) had 28 assists and Kyle Lamet (Benicia, California, Carondelet HS) chipped in 19 digs. 

            “Being down 0-2 to a very good Westmont team and coming back to win in five is quite an accomplishment for such a young team,” added SF State Head Coach Michelle Patton.  “Our players stay focused and served tough and made the adjustments we needed to make in order to get back on track,” noted Patton.  “Against Dominican we had another slow start, but got our rhythm back late in the first game and pretty well throughout the day,” said Patton.  “Overall it was a great day for Gator volleyball.”

            SF State will play its final match of the tournament tomorrow afternoon at 2pm against the second ranked team in NAIA in Cal Baptist.
Box Score vs. Westmont
Box Score vs. Dominican