Box Score

ROHNERT PARK, Calif.  – In a showdown between two teams tied for third place in the conference standings, the visiting San Francisco State women's volleyball team prevailed by a 3-1 count (23-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-22) over Sonoma State Wednesday at The Wolves' Den.

With the victory, the Gators, who earned a No. 6 ranking in the initial Division II West Region poll issued earlier in the day, raise their record to 17-6 overall and 12-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Seawolves slip to 17-7 on the year and 11-5 in league play.

In a classic case of living by the sword and dying by the sword, SF State posted 14 aces on the night, while surviving 13 service errors to help snap SSU's six-match winning streak and sweep the regular-season series between the two schools for the first time since 1990.  Wednesday's win was also the first for the Gators in Rohnert Park since 1998.

Individually, SF State was led by Meagan Wright, who posted a .419 attack percentage after tying for match-high honors with 15 kills on 31 attempts minus two errors, while reserve Katie Judd came off the bench and delivered a clutch performance with a season-high 11 put-aways of her own.  In addition, Jazmine Williams reached double figures with 10 kills to go along with four blocks, while Kelly Ostello (9 kills) tied her career mark with four aces. 

The Gator cause was also advanced by Jessica Nicerio, who finished with 20 digs, surpassing that plateau for the fourth straight match, while Iris Tolenada displayed another consistent effort with 39 assists, and nine digs.  Elsewhere, reigning CCAA Player of the Week Megan Johnson was limited to just four kills, but came up huge defensively with 13 digs and four block assists.

On the flip side, the Seawolves were paced by Caylie Seitz's 15 kills, while Brooke Moore launched eight non-returnables in 11 swings for a whopping .727 hitting percentage.

The two teams were fairly evenly matched, save for a 14-3 SF State advantage in aces, with the Purple and Gold maintaining an edge in kills (52-46), hitting (.226-.174) and digs (56-50), while SSU held a slim 10-9 margin in blocks.

The Gators found themselves in pursuit mode for much of the opening set, trailing by as much as six after three consecutive attack errors provided SSU a 15-9 cushion.  SF State gradually fought itself off the ropes with a late 14-8 run, highlighted by two Judd put-aways, which knotted the score at 23-23.  However, the momentum was quickly snuffed out as Madelyn Densberger knocked down a kill, while an errant Gator shot on the ensuing serve allowed the Seawolves to escape.

SF State snapped out of its funk in the second stanza, hitting at a .359 clip with 19 kills, including six by Wright and four apiece by Williams and Ostello.  Still, the Gators found themselves on the wrong side of a 14-12 score before fashioning a timely 8-3 blitz, capped by a Wright ace, to take the lead for good at 20-17.  SSU remained in contention, trimming the deficit to one on three occasions, including a 24-23 spread following a Seitz put-away.  However, Wright promptly answered with a kill on the next serve to extinguish the threat and tie match at 1-1.

Set number three witnessed a defensive struggle as the two teams combined for just 16 kills.  However, SF State found its groove at the service line, connecting on six aces during the frame, featuring three by Tolenada.  The Gators also came up big at the net with four blocks, including a combined effort by Wright and Tolenada, which provided the visitors a 14-9 lead they would not surrender.

SF State fought to maintain the upper hand throughout the fourth set, but could not build on a series of three-point leads, including a 19-16 spread after three straight kills by Judd.  Moments later, Densberger and Moore combined on a block to tie the score for the seventh time in the frame at 21-21.  However, the Gators closed with a 4-1 rush, featuring kills by Wright and Williams, which ended the suspense.

SF State will close out the home portion of its 2012 schedule this weekend, Nov. 2-3, when it plays host to Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State L.A. on consecutive nights starting at 7 p.m.  Prior to Saturday's showdown with CSULA, the Gators will hold a special Senior Night ceremony celebrating the accomplishments of this year's class, including Sammie Battles, Kelsie Brennan, Megan Johnson and Iris Tolenada.