SAN FRANCISCO – Junior Halimah Oswald launched 12 kills and served up five aces to help the San Francisco State women's volleyball team score a huge upset in four sets (25-16, 18-25, 25-19, 25-17) over 23^rd-ranked Alaska Anchorage in the Gators' 2010 home opener Tuesday night at the Main Gymnasium.

 

Despite hitting just .108 for the match, SF State (3-2) held the Seawolves (5-3) to an even lower attack percentage of .042, while maintaining a 57-43 advantage in digs and a 10-6 edge in service aces. 

 

“I was very proud of our effort tonight,” said Gator head coach Michelle Patton. “I really liked how our team responded after the loss in the second set. Our defense was solid and we put pressure on Alaska Anchorage with our serve. Although our offense struggled, it was good to see our players still find a way to win.”

 

In addition to Oswald's heroics, SF State also received 10 kills from Lauren Walsh, who recorded her third double-double of the season after scooping up 14 digs, just two shy of teammate Sarah Kurfess, who finished with 16 digs of her own to lead all players. Also contributing to the Gator cause was sophomore Iris Tolenada, who handed out 38 assists, while senior Sarah Lewis registered five kills and five block assists.

 

UAA was paced by Jackie Matthisen, who posted eight kills and 12 digs, while Siobhan Johansen contributed 18 assists.

 

SF State set the tone in the first set, limiting the Seawolves to a -.179 hitting percentage on just four kills and nine errors in 28 attempts. The two sides combined for seven ties and two lead changes early in the frame before Oswald and Walsh combined on a block to put the host school ahead to stay at 11-10. Moments later following an Oswald service ace, the Gators were the beneficiaries of three consecutive UAA attack errors, which widened the gap to 19-12. SF State kept the visitors at bay for the rest of the way as Walsh blasted back-to-back kills to cement the set.

 

Unfortunately, the Gators were unable to carry over the momentum into the second stanza as the Seawolves built a 6-1 cushion and never looked back. SF State closed to within 15-13 after a consecutive Walsh service aces; however, UAA responded with a 10-5 run down the stretch to capture the set and even the match. The Seawolves posted their best attack percentage of the evening in that frame, hitting .269 on 10 kills in 26 attempts with just three errors. Despite notching 12 kills, the Gators hit just .051 in the set, committing 10 errors in 39 attempts.

 

The two teams kept in sight of one another in the third frame until an Oswald kill broke a 6-6 tie and put the Gators ahead to stay. Moments later, an attack error by UAA's McKenzie Moss gave the Purple and Gold a comfortable 19-12 advantage it would not relinquish. Six Seawolf serves went awry in the set as the final miscue fittingly provided SF State with the clinching point in the set.

 

UAA came out firing in set number four, posting its highest attack total of the evening with 37 attempts. However, the Gator defense came up big, limiting the visitors to just eight kills, while recording 18 digs (six by Kurfess) and forcing seven errors. A kill by Lewis punctuated a 17-7 run after the two sides opened the frame tied at 2-2. The Seawolves could draw no closer than six points the rest of the way as UAA served up one last error to seal the upset for SF State.

 

The Gators open CCAA play this weekend when they hit the road to battle Cal Poly Pomona (Sept. 10) and No. 3 Cal State San Bernardino (Sept. 11) on consecutive nights.  First serve for both matches is set for 7 p.m.