SAN FRANCISCO – On a day when it trailed in nearly every statistical category, the only value that mattered for the San Francisco State women's volleyball team was the final score, as the Gators posted a thrilling five-set comeback victory over 20
th-ranked Cal State L.A. (25-23, 19-25, 14-25, 28-26, 15-13) in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match Sunday in the Main Gymnasium.
With the win, SF State (7-5, 4-3 CCAA) ended a 19-match slide against the Golden Eagles (6-4, 3-3 CCAA) dating back to 1996 and raised its record to 4-1 this season against teams ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II poll.
In addition to maintaining an advantage in kills (62-56), hitting percentage (.237-.139), digs (63-57) and total blocks (11.0-4.0), CSULA also held a seemingly comfortable 17-10 lead late in the fourth set, when the Gators embarked on another dramatic rally.
Lauren Walsh and
Robyn Hall tied for team-high honors with 13 kills apiece, while
Halimah Oswald also reached double figures with 10 non-returnables of her own to go along with four services aces and four block assists. SF State also received another steady performance from
Iris Tolenada, who handed out 50 assists, while
Sarah Kurfess anchored the defense with a match-best 26 digs.
“I was very impressed with how our team battled back in the fourth set,” said Gator head coach Michelle Patton. “We knew if we started serving tougher, we could regain momentum. Our blocking came together and the end and our servers kept the pressure on. I'm proud of the way our team competed today.”
The Eagles had four players with double-digit kills, including a match-high 17 from Marquis Mora, followed by Zuzana Cizova (12), Natalia Gonzalez (11) and Mary Laupepa (10). Meanwhile, Amrita Tuladhar and Stefanie Gay contributed 46 assists and 21 digs, respectively, in the loss.
The two sides battled one another throughout a nip-and-tuck first set, when CSULA seemingly put itself in the driver's seat at 22-20, following a kill by Laupepa. However, SF State caught lightning in a bottle, crafting a timely 5-1 run to escape with the set as an Oswald kill provided the clinching point.
SF State faced an early four-point deficit in the second stanza, until a kill by Hall tied the score at 9-9. However, the Purple and Gold was unable to gain the upper hand as a Gator attack error and a Tuladhar service ace put the Eagles ahead to stay at 11-9. CSULA managed to extend the margin to five on two occasions, including a 20-15 bulge, before SF State blasted three straight kills to pull within 20-18. The Eagles quickly responded to the Gator threat with a 5-1 run to close out the set as Tuladhar and Laupepa combined on a block to secure the final point.
SF State's offense was mired in a funk for the third set as evidenced by a -.028 hitting percentage on 10 kills and 11 errors in 36 attempts. One Gator miscue gave the Eagles a comfortable 10-2 cushion as the visitors captured the set going away.
Prospects were not much brighter for SF State at the beginning of set number four as Laupepa knocked down three consecutive kills to provide CSULA a generous 7-0 lead. Once again, the Gators flashed their resiliency, though, as two Walsh kills and a pair of Oswald service aces fueled a 7-1 run to drive the Purple and Gold back into contention at 8-7. Following a timeout, the Eagles apparently answered the SF State challenge as consecutive Mora kills ignited a 9-3 outburst to put CSULA in control at 17-10.
With defeat looming, Hall took matters into her own hands for the Purple and Gold, as the Hayward native launched three straight kills to kick-start an identical 9-3 run that trimmed the deficit to 20-19. Lewis' kill brought the host school to within one; however, the Gators' comeback hopes appeared too little too late, as a kill by Mora, coupled with a block by Tuladhar and Sade Greene, put the Eagles on the cusp of victory at 24-20.
Incredibly, SF State staved off three straight match points, then received a kill by Hall and a Kurfess service ace to take a 25-24 lead. After an exchange of points over the next four serves, a Walsh shot found daylight on the floor, sending the match to an improbable fifth set.
Given new life, the Gators rode that momentum into the deciding frame, building a 9-5 advantage after a Lewis kill. However, SF State was unable to put CSULA in its rear-view mirror as the visitors rattled off three straight points to narrow the gap to 9-8. Following a timeout, the Gators were able to reclaim a four-point bulge at 13-9, taking advantage of two Eagle attack errors and a
Jackie Domecus service ace.
It was now CSULA's turn to rally, and the visitors promptly did just that, as two Cizova kills capped a 4-0 run to tie the score at 13-13. However, the Eagles' final two attack attempts went awry, giving SF State another draining, but satisfying victory.
The Gators hit the road next weekend when they tackle Sonoma State (Oct. 1) and Humboldt State on consecutive nights. First serve for both contests is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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