SAN FRANCISCO – Despite a strong cast and big-time performances, the San Francisco State women's volleyball team came up short in the spotlight against 18^th-ranked UC San Diego, falling in a five-set heartbreaker (25-23, 22-25, 22-25, 25-17, 21-19) on Friday in front of a boisterous crowd at the Main Gymnasium.
 
Halimah Oswald led the Gators (10-8, 6-7 California Collegiate Athletic Association) with a season-high 21 kills and added a career-best seven block assists, while Megan Johnson (17 kills), Melissa Horton (15 kills) and Kelly Ostello (12 kills) each surpassed the double-digit plateau in put-aways.  In addition, Iris Tolenada made her ninth double-double of the year a memorable one, tying her collegiate high with 62 assists to go along with a career-best 24 digs, while Sarah Kurfess shoveled up a season-high 30 scoops of her own to anchor the SF State back line. Johnson and Horton also managed to complete double-doubles after contributing 21 and 17 digs, respectively.
 
Conversely, the Tritons (12-4, 8-4 CCAA) were paced by Hillary Williamson, who finished with a match-high 24 kills on a staggering 73 swings to go along with 17 digs for her ninth double-double of the year, while Roxanne Brunsting also doubled up for the 13^th time this season after posting 37 assists and 17 digs. Elsewhere, Janessa Werhane got in to the act with 27 scoops of her own, while Katie Condon (17 digs), Lauren Demos and Julia Friedenberg contributed eight kills apiece in the victory.
 
The Gators owned a statistical advantage in most categories, including kills (74-66), digs (115-95) and total blocks (11-9), but committed five more attack errors (33-28) and were unable to overcome six UCSD service aces.
 
The match was a see-saw affair from the get-go, with the Tritons forging a 14-11 lead in the opening set on a Friedenberg kill. However, the Gators stormed back as consecutive Johnson put-aways and another two by Oswald gave the hosts a 17-15 advantage. Shortly thereafter, SF State seemingly put itself in the driver's set at 22-18 following a solo block and kill by Robyn Hall. UCSD then answered the bell with six straight tallies, including three service aces to go back on top 24-22.  A Triton attack error gave the Gators one last hope, but their final swing went awry, allowing the visitors to escape with the set.
 
Unfazed, SF State went back to work in the second stanza, taking the lead for good at 12-9 on a Horton kill sandwiched around a pair of UCSD hitting errors.  The Gators gradually stretched the margin to 21-17 after an Oswald non-returnable and another Triton attack miscue.  UCSD twice narrowed the gap to two, including a 24-22 spread following a put-away by Demos; however, the Gators stood their ground this time, with Oswald blasting a kill for the clinching point.
 
SF State maintained the momentum with seven straight points to open the third frame, including a combined block by Oswald and Johnson.  A Johnson kill later extended the margin to 15-6, before the Tritons uncorked an 11-4 run, pulling to within 19-17 following a Williamson put-away.  The host school successfully kept the Tritons at bay, however, as three Ostello kills down the stretch proved to be the difference. The Gators enjoyed their best offensive display of the night, knocking down 18 kills on 37 attempts with seven errors during the set for a .297 hitting percentage. 
 
Unfortunately, the Purple and Gold was unable to carry that consistency into set number four as two kills by Williamson combined with three Gator attack errors vaulted UCSD in front to stay at 15-10. SF State never threatened for the remainder of the frame as the Tritons built a trio of eight-point leads, including the final tally of 25-17 after a Williamson put-away.
 
That set the stage for a dramatic conclusion as the two sides combined for 11 ties and six lead changes in the final stanza. The Gators trailed 8-4, until a block by Tolenada and Kelsie Brennan capped a 9-5 spurt to knot the score at 13-13. A Rachelle Kinney put-away then nudged the Tritons closer to victory, but Horton answered with a kill to extend the set. SF State fought valiantly, withstanding four additional match points, eventually putting itself on the brink of a win at 19-18 following kills by Oswald and Horton. However, Williamson and Condon launched a pair of non-returnables sandwiched around a Gator attack error to end the suspense.
 
The Gators will have little time to dwell on their defeat as third-ranked Cal State San Bernardino pays a visit to “The Swamp” for another CCAA showdown on Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m.

Box Score