SAN FRANCISCO – Buoyed by senior Beth Perkins' (Woodland, Calif., Woodland Christian HS, Mt. Hood CC) season-high 24 kills, the San Francisco State women's volleyball team returned to its winning ways on Friday with a four-set triumph over Cal Poly Pomona (25-19, 25-14, 20-25, 26-24) in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match at the Main Gymnasium.
With the win, SF State (14-4, 7-3 CCAA) surpassed its overall and conference victory totals from a year ago, while defeating the Broncos (7-10, 4-6 CCAA) for the first time in 13 meetings dating back to 1998.
In addition to Perkins' heroics, which included a career-best five block assists, the Gators received a pair of double-doubles from sophomore Kyle Lamet (Benicia, Calif., Carondelet HS), who knocked down 13 kills to go along with a match-high 19 digs, while freshman Iris Tolenada (Antioch, Calif., Deer Valley HS) chipped in 51 assists and 11 digs. With her assist total, Tolenada moves into ninth place on SF State's all-time list with 772 career helpers. Not to be outdone, fellow classmate Lauren Walsh (Coto de Caza, Calif., Tesoro HS)a lso reached double figures on the evening by blasting 12 kills of her own.
As a team, the Gators outhit CPP .257-.199 and came up big defensively, maintaining a 73-45 advantage in digs.
The two sides witnessed four ties and three lead changes early in the first set until consecutive kills by Tolenada and Walsh followed by a Bronco attack error put SF State out in front to stay at 9-6. The Gators kept CPP at bay for the remainder of the set, building a 20-15 cushion after a Lamet kill. Moments later, a Perkins kill provided the clinching point, giving SF State the momentum heading into the second frame.
The Gators limited the Broncos to a .000 attack percentage in set two, as the visitors managed just five kills while committing five errors in 30 attempts. Those five miscues, along with a bad set, contributed to a timely 10-4 SF State run, which broke an 8-8 tie. Leading 18-12, the Gators coasted the rest of the way, with kills by Lamet and Walsh, sandwiched around a service ace by junior Vanessa Shaw (Santa Barbara, Calif., Dos Pueblos HS, Santa Barbara CC) supplying the requisite points.
The Gators had visions of a sweep in the third set, and things looked good for the host school after it opened up an 11-7 advantage after a Perkins kill. However, CPP kept within striking distance, tying the score on two occasions, before taking the lead for good at 21-19 on consecutive kills by Lindsey Poulos.
A dramatic fourth set would await the two teams as they combined for 15 ties and five lead changes. SF State held a slim 20-19 edge before the Broncos notched three straight points on kills by Elizabeth Diaz and Diana Lake, followed by a Karissa Lagmay ace. Now trailing 22-20, the Gators were given new life when Lagmay committed an error on her very next serve. Then freshman Riley Cutner (Irvine, Calif., University HS) promptly answered with an ace of her own, while Perkins notched a pair of kills to put SF State up 24-22. A Lake kill and a Gator attack error soon knotted the score once again at 24-24. However, SF State maintained its composure, forcing a Bronco attack error on the heels of a Perkins kill to nail down the hard-fought victory.
The Gators will be back in action on Saturday when No. 2 Cal State San Bernardino invades the Main Gymnasium. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
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