SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco State women's volleyball team continued its flair for the dramatic on Saturday, overcoming a 2-0 deficit in sets to defeat 11^th-ranked UC San Diego in a heart-stopping five-set marathon (15-25, 26-28, 25-21, 28-26, 15-13) at the Main Gymnasium. The Gators received a match-high 24 kills from Lauren Walsh and Robyn Hall to knock off their second nationally ranked opponent in as many nights after downing No. 24 Cal State East Bay in four sets on Friday.

 

With the victory, SF State won its third straight home match, raising its record to 5-4 on the year and 2-2 in the California Collegiate Association, while the Tritons lost for the third consecutive outing this week, slipping to 5-4 overall and 2-3 in conference play.

 

“The team really impressed me tonight with their determination to win this match,” said Gator head coach Michelle Patton. “Robyn Hall was big-time on the outside and our defense stepped up just in time. “I'm very proud of the way our team found a way to win.”

 

Hall's total of 24 kills marked a career high, while Walsh equaled her school record of 85 attack attempts on Saturday to go along with a career-best 24 digs. Not to be outdone, Iris Tolenada also established a pair of new collegiate highs with 62 assists and 22 digs for her third double-double of the year, while Sarah Kurfess and Katie Judd posted season bests of 36 and 14 digs, respectively.

 

Although UCSD outhit SF State .183-.119 and owned a substantial 19-7 advantage in total blocks, SF State knocked down more kills (71-57) and established a new season high with 120 digs, compared to 90 scoops for the Tritons.

 

UCSD was paced by Kaitlin Potter, Katie Condon and Julia Friedenberg, who finished with 13 kills apiece, while Audrey Green was an unshakable force at the net with 13 total blocks, including 12 assists. Thalia McCann also stood out on the stat sheet with 49 assists, while Janessa Werhane shoveled up 21 digs in the loss.

 

The two teams combined for 40 ties and 21 lead changes in the 2-hour-and 32 minute marathon, as the Gators posted their second victory in their last three meetings against the Tritons.

The opening frame was a seesaw affair as SF State clung to 14-13 lead following a Walsh kill. However, a kill by Sally Yingst and a Friedenberg service ace ignited 12-1 outburst as UCSD took the set going away. The Tritons also combined for three blocks during their run and benefited from four additional Gator attack errors.

 

UCSD appeared to be cruising in the second stanza as well, forging a 13-7 advantage after consecutive kills by Condon and Potter. However, the Purple and Gold fought itself off the ropes at this juncture as sophomore Laura Watt, who was seeing her first game action of the season, served up an ace to cap a 9-2 run, which put the host school up 16-15. Moments later, the Tritons reclaimed a three-point bulge at 21-18 following a kill by McCann. The Gators then seemingly put themselves in the driver's seat with a 5-0 run, punctuated by back-to-back Walsh kills. SF State was unable to secure the frame, however, as UCSD closed with a 7-3 flurry of its own. With the score knotted at 26-26, Friedenberg blasted a kill and then combined with Green on a block to give the visitors a commanding 2-0 lead in sets.

 

Set number three was a defensive struggle as the Gators limited UCSD to six kills, while scooping up 31 digs on 45 Triton attacks. SF State overcame an early 9-4 deficit, crafting a 10-4 outburst to take lead for good at 14-13 following a kill by Halimah Oswald. The Gators managed to keep their adversary at bay for the remainder of the set as a kill by Hall provided the clinching point.

 

The two teams turned up the heat offensively in the fourth frame, combining for 131 attack attempts. The SF State defense was up to the task, however, recording 39 digs for the set, including 10 by Walsh, who also knocked down eight kills along the way. The Gators appeared to be in control throughout, taking a 24-19 lead after a Walsh attack found its way to the floor. UCSD would not go quietly, however, as consecutive kills by Friedenberg capped a 5-0 surge that knotted the score at 24-24. After the two sides exchanged points on the ensuing four serves, SF State staved off defeat as a kill by Hall and an errant Triton shot sent the already-frenzied match into a thrilling crescendo.

 

The fifth and deciding set was no less dramatic as the scoreboard witnessed eight ties and three lead changes. The Gators notched their best hitting percentage of the evening (.276) on 13 kills in 15 attempts with five errors. Hall launched five of those kills, while Megan Larmour would figure prominently as well, knocking down three important kills of her own. With the score tied at 11-11, SF State tallied three straight points on kills by Hall and Walsh sandwiched around a UCSD attack error to take a 14-11 lead. With the crowd on its feet sensing a spirited comeback, the Tritons scored twice to throw in one last scare; however Walsh ended the suspense with her final kill of the night, much to the delight of the Gator faithful.