Box Score

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Meagan Wright posted a season-high .500 attack percentage, blasting a match-best 14 kills, while Kelly Ostello added 10 put-aways of her own as the San Francisco State women's volleyball team scored a huge 3-0 victory over UC San Diego (25-20, 25-18, 25-17) in a critical California Collegiate Athletic Association showdown Friday at RIMAC Arena.

In addition, the Gators (19-7, 14-5 CCAA) received solid contributions from Megan Johnson, who racked up eight kills and a team-high18 digs, while Jaclyn Clark (10 digs) and Jazmine Williams (four blocks) launched seven non-returnables apiece to help the Purple and Gold sweep the regular-season series from the Tritons (19-8, 14-5) for the first time ever.

With the victory, SF State, ranked eighth in latest NCAA Division II West Region poll, also moved into a tie for second place in the league standings with UCSD after establishing a new school record with 14 CCAA wins, eclipsing the previous mark of 13 set in 2009.

 The Gators outhit the Tritons .291-.153 and maintained the edge in most categories, including kills (46-36), digs (62-53), aces (6-1) and blocks (5-4).  Elsewhere, Iris Tolenada just missed out on a trademark double-double, finishing with 42 assists and eight digs, while Jessica Nicerio totaled 14 scoops in the back row.

On the other hand, UCSD was paced by Sophie Rowe's nine kills, while Brittany Lombardi led all players with 24 digs.

Despite SF State's advantages, the two teams still combined for 20 ties and eight lead changes.  However, the Purple and Gold used timely runs and benefited from several inopportune mistakes by the Tritons to keep the host school at bay.

The Gators trailed 12-10 in the opening set before uncorking a propitious 7-1 run, highlighted by two Wright kills and a pair of Williams blocks, which put the visitors ahead to stay at 17-13.  UCSD twice trimmed the deficit to two over the next four serves, but SF State rode the hot hitting of Ostello, who slammed three kills down the stretch and then combined with Williams on a block.  Not to be outdone, the Gator outside hitter promptly added an ace for the clinching point.

With momentum on its side, SF State quickly built a 7-1 bulge in the second stanza and never looked back.  Shortly thereafter, the Gators upped their advantage to eight at 12-4 following a Clark put-away and service ace.  The Tritons soon received three kills from Danielle Dahle during an 8-5 run that pulled the host school to within five at 17-12.  However, the deficit proved too much to overcome as Wright knocked down a kill, while Williams netted a solo block to put the Purple and Gold back in control at 23-14.

SF State notched its best hitting percentage of the night (.355) in the third frame, totaling 14 kills on 31 swings with just three errors.  Yet the visitors still found themselves in a 14-14 deadlock when UCSD committed two costly attack errors sandwiched around an errant serve to quickly turn the tide. Moments later, Clark tallied an ace, while Wright collected another kill to put the Gators in the driver's seat at 21-16.  Sensing a sweep, SF State wasted little time in closing off the match as Ostello powered down four kills over the next five serves to give the Purple and Gold its first taste of victory on the RIMAC Arena floor.

The Gators will have little time to savor their triumph as they travel to 25th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday for another crucial conference battle beginning at 7 p.m.  The first-place Coyotes (19-8, 16-3 CCAA) dispatched Sonoma State in four sets on Friday.