LOS ANGELES – Despite trailing in most statistical categories, the only result that mattered to the San Francisco State women's volleyball team was the final score as the Gators grinded out a tough four-set victory over Cal State L.A. (25-22, 16-25, 25-19, 25-20) on Saturday at the Eagles Nest.
With the win, SF State captured its fifth straight match, raising its record to 9-5 overall and 5-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Golden Eagles slip to 6-8 on the season and 3-6 in league action.
Halimah Oswald led the Gators with 13 kills, while
Katie Judd came off the bench to blast a season-high seven put-aways of her own. In addition, the Purple and Gold received vital production from
Megan Johnson (6 kills, 10 digs) and
Kelly Ostello (6 kills, 3 service aces), while
Sarah Kurfess and
Jazmine Williams posted 15 scoops and three solo blocks, respectively. Not to be outdone,
Iris Tolenada recorded her sixth double-double of the year with 37 assists and 10 digs.
SF State survived CSULA's duo of Natalia Gonzalez (16 kills) and Marquis Mora (14 kills, 6 block assists, while April Reyes finished with a match-high 17 digs in the loss.
The Eagles maintained the edge in kills (49-45), digs (64-60) and total blocks (10-5); however, the Gators took advantage of 22 attack errors and nine service miscues by the host school, employing timely runs to emerge with the victory.
SF State trailed early in the opening set as a kill by Kymberly Silveyra gave CSULA its largest lead of the frame at 11-6. However, the Gators quickly regrouped with a 10-5 spurt, capped by a Johnson service ace to pull ahead 16-15. A Gonzalez put-away on the next point knotted the score, but Ostello launched a kill and added a service ace to put the visitors ahead to stay at 18-16. SF State managed to extend its lead to five on two occasions, including a 24-19 spread after a Johnson kill. The Eagles provided some anxious moments with three consecutive points down the stretch, but an errant attack allowed the Purple and Gold to escape.
CSULA led throughout the second stanza, utilizing an 11-4 run to break open a tight 14-12 score. The Eagles hit .371 for the set, knocking down 16 kills on 35 attempts with just three errors, while the Gators were limited to just seven put-aways.
CSULA was unable maintain its offensive momentum for the remainder of the match; however, as the hosts hit just .068 over the final two frames. SF State seized the opportunity in set number three as an Oswald kill and two Eagle attack errors put the Purple and Gold in front to stay at 18-15 following nine ties and four lead changes. Kills by Gonzalez and Reanna Hill narrowed the gap to one, but two key put-aways by Judd ignited a 7-2 Gator run to close out the set.
Remarkably, the same scenario unfolded in the fourth set as the two sides combined four seven ties and four lead changes. A kill by Mora provided CSULA a 16-13 advantage, but its momentum was soon derailed by an errant serve and an attack error on the next two points. Shortly thereafter, Judd launched three kills, while Ostello added two service aces to highlight a 10-1 blitz as SF State stormed to a 23-17 lead.
Kelsie Brennan then knocked down a kill moments later to put the finishing touch on the win.
The Gators conclude their three-match Southern California road trip on Sunday, when they square off against Cal Poly Pomona, starting at 4:30 p.m.
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