Box Score

HAYWARD, Calif. – Meagan Wright launched a season-high 24 kills and Kelly Ostello added 16 put-aways of her own, but it wasn't enough as the San Francisco State women's volleyball team dropped a five-set heartbreaker to Cal State East Bay (16-25, 26-24, 25-17, 28-30, 17-15) on Saturday in a California Collegiate Athletic Association clash at Pioneer Gym.

Trailing 2-1 in sets, the Gators, who rallied for a 3-2 triumph at Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, came up short in their quest for a second consecutive come-from-behind victory, falling to 14-6 on the season and 9-4 in league play.  Meanwhile, the Pioneers improve to 8-12 overall and 3-10 in the CCAA.

Despite owning a decisive 73-53 advantage in kills and a 107-95 edge in digs, SF State was its own worst enemy on Saturday, committing more attack errors (37-21) and errant serves (14-7) than East Bay, which maintained a 10-6 spread in total blocks.

Still, the Gators put themselves in position to escape in the fifth set after an Alyssa Rusin put-away and a Pioneer attack error gave the Purple and Gold  a 13-11 lead.  However, SF State returned the favor with an errant shot, while Nicole Boyle added an ace and Nikki Long followed with a kill to put East Bay in front, 14-13.  The Gators countered with back-to-back kills by Megan Johnson and Wright; however, a wayward serve and an attack error spelled doom for the visitors as a Samantha Bruno put-away provided the winning point for the Pioneers, abruptly ending the nearly two-and-a-half-hour marathon.

In addition to Wright's production, SF State received double-doubles from three players, including Ostello (11 digs), Johnson (10 kills, 14 digs) and Iris Tolenada (55 assists, 23 digs).  The Gators' strong defensive effort was also aided by Jessica Nicerio (24 digs) and Jaclyn Clark (21 digs), while Jazmine Williams chipped in three blocks to go along with five kills.

Conversely, East Bay was led by Boyle, who completed a double-double as well with 11 kills and 19 digs, while Veronica Sanchez finished with a whopping 39 scoops in the victory.

SF State came out firing on all cylinders in the opening set, foreshadowing none of the offensive woes that would haunt the team the rest of the night.  The Gators hit at a .349 clip during the frame, knocking down 18 kills on 43 attempts with just three errors.  SF State grabbed an early 8-2 lead on consecutive Johnson put-aways before East Bay uncorked a 10-6 run to pull within two.  A Bruno kill tightened the score at 14-12; however, Johnson answered with her own non-returnable, while Ostello followed with an ace, and the Gators were never threatened again.

SF State managed 15 kills in the second stanza, but had 11 attacks go awry in 45 swings for a .089 hitting percentage.  Still, the Gators were in position to take a commanding 2-0 lead in sets after a Johnson kill gave the visitors a late 24-21 edge.  However, the Pioneers closed with five straight points to steal the momentum as Bruno blasted a kill and combined with Long on a block, while Sanchez added an ace during the run.

Stung, SF State slipped into a funk during the third frame, totaling just eight kills while committing nine errors.  The Gators trailed 7-6 before the roof caved in as a Jade Sanford kill and consecutive Boyle aces ignited an 11-4 blitz that put East Bay in control at 18-10.  The Purple and Gold narrowed the gap to four at 20-16 following a combined block by Ostello and Kaileen Mejia, but could draw no closer.

The Pioneers looked to close out the match in the fourth set, and things looked good for the host school after it built a 21-17 cushion on a Boyle kill.  However, SF State flashed its resolve as back-to-back put-aways by Ostello sparked a 7-2 spurt that vaulted the visitors in front, 24-23.  The Gators soon found the clincher quite elusive, but ultimately survived five ties and two match points down the stretch as East Bay self-destructed with a pair of attack errors on the final two serves.  SF State blasted 23 kills as part of a 69-shot barrage during the frame to help extend the contest.

The Gators forged a two-point lead on four occasions in the dramatic fifth set, including the aforementioned 13-11 spread, but could not make them stand up.

SF State, which is now tied for third in the CCAA with Sonoma State, will return to court next weekend, Oct. 26-27, when it battles Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus on successive nights at home.  First serve for both matches at The Swamp is slated for 7 p.m.