SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State women's volleyball recorded a victory for the ages on Friday night, upsetting second-ranked UC San Diego in four sets (25-19, 16-25, 25-15, 30-28) in front of a raucous crowd at the Main Gymnasium.
Senior
Beth Perkins (Woodland, Calif., Woodland Christian HS, Mt. Hood CC) knocked down a match-high 21 kills, while freshman
Lauren Walsh (Coto de Caza, Calif., Tesoro HS) recorded a season best with 20 kills of her own, helping the Gators (19-8, 12-7 California Collegiate Athletic Association snap the Tritons' (25-2, 17-2 CCAA) 16-match winning streak. The win also gives SF State its first-ever triumph over UCSD in 15 all-time meetings between the two schools.
“The home-court advantage and our fan support factored greatly in our win tonight, said Gator head coach Michelle Patton. “Our players dealt with the pressure like a veteran team and came ready to battle a very good UCSD squad.
“I am extremely proud of the way things came together for us tonight. This was by far our best match from start to finish this season.”
In addition to Perkins' offensive fireworks, the SF State outside hitter scooped up a team-best 17 digs, while freshman
Iris Tolenada (Antioch, Calif., Deer Valley HS) chipped in 46 assists and 12 digs for her team-leading 19
th double-double of the year. The Gator setter also displayed her tenacity at the net, posting seven overall blocks (two solos, five assists).
Other SF State players contributing to the winning cause were juniors
Vanessa Shaw (Santa Barbara, Calif., Dos Pueblos HS, Santa Barbara CC) and
Jackie Domecus (Vallejo, Calif., St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS), who notched 14 digs apiece, while sophomores
Halimah Oswald (San Francisco, Calif., Waldorf HS) (five block assists) and
Brittany Powell (Chula Vista, Calif., Otay Ranch HS) (two block solos, two block assists) starred on the defensive side as well.
The Tritons were led by Sylvia Schmidt's 20 kills, while Roxanne Brunsting added a match-high 19 digs.
As a team, the Gators outhit UCSD .241-.181, while maintaining an advantage in digs (74-59) and total blocks (11.0-3.0). SF State was also the beneficiary of 13 Triton service errors.
The Gators never trailed in the opening frame as a Perkins kill put the home team ahead to stay at 2-1 in the early going. SF State gradually took control at this juncture, stretching the margin to 17-8 following consecutive kills by Oswald and Perkins. UCSD managed one final rally, closing to within 21-17 after a Gator attack error. However, SF State withstood the challenge with a 4-2 spurt to capture the set, highlighted by three Walsh kills.
In set number two, the Gators overcame a 5-2 deficit to forge an 8-6 lead, thanks in part to a Shaw service ace and another Walsh kill. However, the Tritons regrouped with a 5-1 flurry to go back in front to stay at 11-9 following a Karen Reis kill and a Janessa Werhane service ace. SF State managed to pull within one on two occasions before a 10-3 blitz gave UCSD a comfortable 22-14 advantage it would not relinquish.
Both teams struggled to gain the upper hand in the opening moments of the third set, with the Tritons maintaining a slim 8-7 edge after an Elaine Chen kill. However, the Gators quickly responded with three straight points to take the lead for good at 10-8 following kills by Walsh and Perkins sandwiched around a key block from the duo of Perkins and Oswald. After a timeout, UCSD answered with a Schmidt kill, but SF State seized the momentum with a 15-6 run to close out the set. Leading 19-13, the Gators were aided by four Triton attack errors down the stretch, while a Perkins kill provided the clinching point.
An epic drama would soon unfold in the fourth stanza as the two sides combined for 18 ties and 11 lead changes. SF State went ahead 17-14 on a UCSD setting error, before the Tritons rallied with four straight points to reclaim the lead at 18-17 following a block by Lauren Bradley and Audrey Green. Shortly thereafter, UCSD stretched the margin to 22-20, courtesy of a Gator attack error. However, SF State flashed its resiliency once again as two Perkins kills keyed a 4-1 spurt to put the host school back in front at 24-23. The Tritons quickly reclaimed the lead on a Schmidt kill and Chen service ace, but a UCSD attack error knotted the score once again at 25-25. The Tritons had three additional chances to send the match into a decisive fifth set, but were denied on each attempt. Trailing 28-27, the Gators profited from another UCSD hitting error; Perkins soon added a kill, while Tolenada and Oswald stuffed Katie Condon's attack attempt at the net to complete the huge upset.
SF State will have little time to rest as it welcomes Cal State East Bay to the Main Gymnasium on Saturday for a 7 p.m. match to close out the regular-season home schedule for the Purple and Gold. Prior to Saturday's contest, the Gators will honor
Beth Perkins as part of Senior Night festivities.
Box Score
