Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State women's volleyball team had its offense clicking early on Friday, committing just five attack errors over the first two sets en route to a 3-0 triumph over a pesky Humboldt State squad (25-17, 25-17, 25-22) in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match at The Swamp.
With the win, the Gators have now emerged victorious in nine of their last 11 outings to raise their record to 13-4 on the season and 8-2 in league play, reclaiming a share of first place in the CCAA on the heels of Cal State San Bernardino's upset loss at home to Cal State East Bay. Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks slip to 2-15 overall and 0-10 in the conference.
Megan Johnson led SF State with 10 kills, while
Iris Tolenada posted her 10th double-double of the year with 37 assists and 12 digs. The Purple and Gold also received a key contribution from
Melissa Horton, who blasted seven put-aways off the bench, while
Jessica Nicerio scooped up a match-high 21 digs of her own.
HSU fought valiantly on defense as the two sides posted 56 digs apiece, but in the end, the Gators finished with a 41-32 advantage in kills and an 8-2 spread in aces, with Johnson and Tolenada serving up three each.
Johnson produced half of her kill total for the night in the opening frame, hammering home five winners, while
Kelly Ostello added four. As a team, SF State hit at a .333 clip on 13 kills in 36 attempts with just one miscue. Nicerio also aided the cause with two aces as the host school built a commanding 18-9 lead it would not relinquish. The Jacks managed to trim the deficit to five at 22-17; however,
Jazmine Williams responded with a solo block and a kill, while Johnson followed with another put-away for the clinching point.
The Gators maintained their efficiency for the most part in the second stanza, launching 14 kills on 33 swings with four errors for a .303 attack percentage. Still, the host school had to overcome a trio of two-point deficits in the early going, including a 7-5 spread following a Danielle Carlson put-away. No matter. SF State fashioned a 12-4 run, capped by an Ostello kill and a Tolenada ace, to build a comfortable 17-11 cushion.
Set number three was a much tighter affair as the two teams combined for seven ties and four lead changes. Two
Kelsie Brennan kills and another pair by Horton down the stretch proved to be the difference, however, as the Purple and Gold overcame 10 attack errors in the frame.
The Jacks were paced by Carlson's match-high 12 kills, while Kelci Renshaw notched a double-double with 15 assists and 10 digs. Two additional HSU players finished with double-digit dig totals, including Tiffany McCray (17) and Alexa Rosendale (14), who knocked down nine kills as well.
Friday's clash was designated as SF State's “Dig for a Cure” match to help promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month in conjunction with the CCAA and Molten USA. Prior to the contest, both squads donned special warm-up shirts to commemorate those people and families who have fought the disease.
The Gators return to the court on Saturday to battle Cal Poly Pomona in another home league match beginning at 7 p.m. The Broncos (8-9, 4-6 CCAA) dropped a three-set decision at Sonoma State on Friday.
