ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – Fresh off a pair of hard-fought losses on Friday, the San Francisco State women's volleyball team bounced back in a big way Saturday, capturing its final two matches at the Seawolf Spike Tournament on the campus of Sonoma State University. The Gators rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Brigham Young-Hawaii in a marathon five-set thriller (25-23, 25-27, 24-26, 25-21, 15-13) before sweeping Dominican (25-12, 25-19, 25-18) later in the afternoon.
Sophomore Lauren Walsh continued her impressive start to the 2010 season by knocking down 35 kills on the day, earning all-tournament honors, while freshman Megan Larmour launched 30 non-returnables of her own. SF State (2-2) also received another solid effort from sophomore setter Iris Tolenada, who handed out a combined 85 assists during Saturday's matches, while junior transfer Sarah Kurfess scooped up 46 digs.
Much like Friday, the Gators found themselves in another barn-burner against BYU-Hawaii as the two teams combined for 36 ties and 14 lead changes. SF State faced a 17-9 deficit in the opening set before unleashing a 13-5 blitz, highlighted by two kills apiece from Larmour, which tied the score at 22-22. Following a Gator attack error, however, the Seasiders imploded with three consecutive offensive miscues of their own, allowing the Purple and Gold to escape with the set.
SF State trailed 20-16 in the second set before a 9-4 spurt, punctuated by two Larmour kills, put the Gators in front 25-24. SF State was unable to clinch the set, however, as BYUH benefited from two attack errors sandwiched around a service ace by Nobuko Kotoroyi to steal one back from the Gators.
Another tight battle awaited the two sides in the third frame, with SF State opening up a late 24-21 lead, courtesy of three consecutive kills by Walsh. The Gators were unable to capitalize on their good fortune, though, as the Seasiders reeled off five straight points to capture the set.
Unfazed, SF State went back to work in the set number four, taking the lead for good at 12-10, following a BYUH service error and a Larmour kill. Shortly thereafter, two additional back-to-back kills by Larmour extended the Gator advantage to 22-15. The Seasiders were soon able to slice the margin down to two at 23-21; however, SF State was able to close things out this time around, thanks to consecutive kills by senior Sarah Lewis and Walsh.
The stage was then set for a decisive fifth frame, and the two teams did not disappoint in the drama department, as the Gators watched a 9-3 lead dissolve into a 12-11 deficit. Moments later, SF State benefited from two attack errors to reclaim the lead at 13-12, only to have BYUH knot the score at 13-13 on a kill by Lauren Hagemeyer. Undaunted, the Gators broke the Seasiders' serve with a Lewis kill, while Walsh fittingly ended the two-hour slugfest with another non-returnable, giving SF State its first win of the season.
Despite trailing in blocks (14-10), aces (9-3) and committing more errors (39-30), SF State owned a 64-46 advantage in kills and limited BYUH to a .089 hitting percentage, including a -.057 mark in the third set.
Individually, Larmour finished with 20 kills, tying for match-high honors with Walsh, who notched her second double-double of the year by adding 16 digs. In addition, Lewis established a new career high with 14 kills of her own and added six total blocks, including three solos. Not to be outdone, Kurfess was one of five Gators to notch double-digit dig totals with 30 shovels, joining Reyna Rochin (19), Jackie Domecus (10) and Tolenada (10), who also registered a double-double with a match-best 52 assists.
In the second match of the day against Bay Area neighbor Dominican, a kill by junior Halimah Oswald broke a 7-7 tie in the opening stanza, igniting an 18-5 run as SF State took the set going away, 25-12.
Another Oswald kill put the Purple and Gold ahead to stay in the second frame at 3-2, while a kill by Robyn Hall stretched the margin to 19-13 moments later. However, the Lady Penguins would not go quietly, pulling to within 21-19 following a Gator service error. SF State withstood the Dominican challenge, scoring the final four points of the set as Rochin's service ace provided the clincher.
With a commanding 2-0 advantage, the Gators received all they could handle from the opposition in the third set, as the Lady Penguins tied the score at 15-15 on a kill by Seluia Falealili. However, a kill by Larmour on the ensuing serve put the Gators ahead to stay. Dominican stayed close for a short sequence, pulling to within one at 19-18 following an attack error, until SF State closed with a 6-0 run to ice the match.
Walsh, who averaged a sparkling 4.53 kills per set over the weekend, once again led the way with 14 kills against the Lady Penguins, finishing with a .314 hitting percentage on 35 attempts with just three errors, while Larmour also reached double-figures with 10 kills (.381, 10-2-21).
As a team, the Gators outhit Dominican .282-.062, maintaining a 41-29 bulge in kills.
SF State returns to the court for its 2010 home opener on Tuesday, Sept. 7, when it squares off against Alaska Anchorage, which received a No. 24 ranking in the preseason Division II coaches poll. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
Box Score vs. BYU-Hawaii
Box Score vs. Dominican
