LA JOLLA, Calif. – Despite holding a 1-0 lead in sets, the visiting San Francisco State women's volleyball team was unable to build on its momentum as UC San Diego roared back to claim a 3-1 victory (19-25, 25-22, 25-9, 25-19) in a key California Collegiate Athletic Association match Friday at RIMAC Arena.
The Gators, who entered the weekend with a No. 6 ranking in the first NCAA Division II West Region poll of the season, dropped their third straight, falling to 10-9 overall and 7-7 in league play, while the Tritons won their fourth in a row, improving to 11-7 on the year and 8-6 in the CCAA.
SF State was led by Lauren Walsh and Halimah Oswald (.333), who launched 10 kills apiece, while Robyn Hall deposited eight non-returnables of her own. In addition, Sarah Kurfess contributed 16 digs, while Iris Tolenada recorded her sixth double-double of the year with 41 assists and 13 digs. Kelsie Brennan also enjoyed a productive night with six kills and four total blocks.
Conversely, UCSD was paced by Katie Condon's match-high 16 kills, while Roxanne Brunsting, the reigning CCAA Player of the Week, notched her third straight triple-double with 10 kills, 26 assists and 14 digs. Julia Friedenberg also got into the act with 10 kills and three solo blocks, while Janessa Werhane scooped a match-best 17 digs.
Despite owning a 10.0-8.0 advantage in total blocks, the Gators were outhit .298-.144 for the match and found themselves trailing in kills (62-45), digs (70-63) and service aces (6-3).
The two teams battled through a nip-and-tuck opening set as SF State nursed a 19-17 lead following a Triton attack error. Moments later, a solo block and kill by Hall provided the clinching points. The Gators hit .333 (14-3-33) during the frame as Hall blasted four kills, while Walsh added three of her own.
SF State fought back from a 5-1 deficit early in the second stanza to tie the score at 11-11 on a Brennan kill. UCSD quickly responded with a 5-2 spurt, capped by a Gator attack error, to reclaim a 16-13 advantage. The Purple and Gold tallied the next five points, including a Brennan kill, to take their first lead of the set at 18-16. However, the Tritons stole the SF State momentum at this juncture, crafting a 5-0 run to surge ahead for good at 21-18. The Gators narrowed the gap to 21-20 on a UCSD attack error and a kill by Hall, but the host school maintained the upper hand as back-to-back kills by Condon and Brunsting closed out the frame.
Set number three was unkind to SF State as the Tritons built a 10-2 bulge following a Condon kill and Gator attack error and never looked back. SF State posted a -.081 hitting percentage for the frame on just seven kills in 37 attempts with 10 errors.
The Gators were in pursuit mode throughout the fourth set as well, but managed to pull within 10-9 after Walsh and Laura Watt combined on a block. However, any hopes for a comeback were soon dashed as a kill by Hillary Williamson and an SF State attack error punctuated a 13-6, putting UCSD in control at 23-15. Shortly thereafter, Cara Simonsen's kill sealed the match.
The Gators will have little time to dwell on the defeat as they return to the court on Saturday, Oct. 23, to tackle 23rd-ranked Cal State East Bay in Hayward beginning at 7 p.m. The Pioneers (15-4, 10-4 CCAA) defeated Cal State Monterey Bay at home on Friday in three sets.
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