Box Score

POMONA, Calif. – With postseason fortunes perhaps hanging in the balance, the San Francisco State women's volleyball team recorded one its most thrilling victories in recent memory with a come-from-behind 3-2 triumph on the road Thursday over Cal Poly Pomona (25-27, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 15-9) inside Kellogg Gym.

Buoyed by Meagan Wright's brilliant all-round performance (24 kills, 8 digs, 5 solo blocks, 4 service aces), the Gators,  ranked seventh in the latest Division II West Region poll, took a huge step in securing their second NCAA Tournament bid in the last four years,  raising their record to 20-8 overall and 15-6 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

Wright hit .396 for the match, tying her season-high kill total, while Iris Tolenada and Megan Johnson each finished with a double-double.  Tolenada established a new career best with a whopping 65 assists to go along with 14 digs, while Johnson registered 14 kills and 17 scoops.

Not to be outdone, Jazmine Williams (.462) launched 14 put-aways of her own, while Jessica Nicerio led the defense once again with 27 digs.

On the flip side, the Broncos (13-15, 9-12 CCAA) received double-doubles from Jessica Doerner (15 kills, 10 digs) and Diana Lake (13 kills, 13 digs), while Kelly Bonja led all players with 28 digs.  In addition, Alexa Hasen posted a match-best seven block assists, while Lauren Jones (9 kills) was in on five stops at the net, including one solo.

Despite trailing in blocks (14-7), SF State maintained a decisive 74-52 advantage in kills and an 88-78 spread in digs. The Gators, who outhit CPP .236-.190, also managed to offset 16 service errors with 11 aces to help snap a five-match losing streak to their hosts.

Looking down the barrel of a possible sweep after falling behind 19-16 in the third frame, the Purple and Gold changed the whole complexion of the match with a decisive 9-3 closing rush as Wright hammered home three kills and served up two aces down the stretch to help the visitors remain alive.  SF State posted its best hitting percentage of the night (.357) during the set, blasting 19 kills on 42 attempts with just four errors.

The two teams fought through six ties early in set number four, until a Johnson put-away and a Wright block put SF State ahead to stay at 9-7.  The Gators tried to pad their lead, but were unable to extend a pair of four-point advantages.  However, after a Hasen kill brought the host school to within two at 20-18, Wright came up huge late once again, powering down three winners, while Johnson and Williams combined on a block for the clinching point.

With the score knotted at 5-5 in the decisive fifth frame, a Melissa Horton kill vaulted SF State in front for good, while CPP promptly self-destructed with three straight attack errors.  Moments later, the Broncos briefly regrouped, pulling to within 10-8 on a Lake put-away.  However, the Gators would not be denied as Kelly Ostello fired off three of her 11 kills to spark a 5-1 blitz, while Wright fittingly provided the final point of the match with a non-returnable of her own.
 
SF State will wrap up its regular-season slate on Saturday when it travels north to tackle Humboldt State in Arcata, beginning at 7 p.m.