Box Score

LOS ANGELES – The visiting San Francisco State women's volleyball team received double-digit kills from three players to highlight a four-set victory (25-18, 25-20, 24-26, 25-21) over Cal State L.A. in a key California Collegiate Athletic Association clash Friday at the Eagles Nest.
 
Megan Johnson (14), Kelly Ostello (13) and Meagan Wright (11) combined for 38 of the team's 53 kills to help the Gators raise their record to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in conference play.  The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, slip to 5-8 on the season and 3-3 in the CCAA.
 
Wright hit .381 on the night and contributed four service aces and three blocks assists for the Purple and Gold, while Johnson (.333) added 12 digs to complete her fourth double-double of the year.  Not to be outdone, Iris Tolenada also doubled up on the stat sheet for the sixth time this season after posting match highs of 40 assists and 16 scoops of her own.  In addition, the SF State defense received a boost from Jessica Nicerio and Jaclyn Clark (3 aces), who finished with 11 digs apiece.
 
As a team, the Gators owned a 53-43 advantage in kills and limited CSULA to a .132 hitting percentage on the night, including a .077 clip through the first two sets as the host school combined for just 17 put-aways during that stretch.  In addition, SF State maintained a 58-56 edge in digs, while surviving 14 service errors and a 10-7 deficit in blocks to emerge triumphant on the Eagles' home floor for the third straight year.

The Gators built an early 11-5 bulge in the opening set on a combined block by Clark and Jazmine Williams before CSULA responded with a 11-4 run of its own to grab a slim 16-15 lead. Shortly thereafter, kills by Ostello and Williams followed by a CSULA attack error temporarily vaulted the visitors back in front. However, an errant Gator serve and a Loreal Carter put-away knotted the score for the eighth time in the frame at 18-18.  Suddenly, the Purple and Gold seized control with a 7-0 closing blitz, featuring three Ostello kills and a Tolenada ace.
 
Two sides were deadlocked at 11-11 in the second stanza before Wright knocked down three kills and combined with Ostello on a block during a timely 9-2 spurt that catapulted SF State in front for good at 20-13.  The Gators also benefited from two attack errors and a bad set during that span before the Eagles threw in a late scare.  Three put-aways by Marquis Mora and a Sukhjit Athwal service ace helped narrow the gap to one at 21-20, but SF State weathered the storm as alternating kills by Ostello and Johnson, along with two wayward CSULA attacks, provided the clinching points.
 
The Eagles maintained the upper hand for most of set number three, with the hosts fashioning a seemingly comfortable 19-13 cushion after a Carter kill.  The Gators gradually whittled away at the deficit as two Melissa Horton put-aways and a Wright service ace punctuated an 11-5 rush that tied the score at 24-24.  However, any designs of a Purple and Gold sweep were soon thwarted as Mora blasted a kill and promptly joined forces with Alexandra Bura on a block, allowing CSULA to escape.
 
The fourth frame witnessed seven early ties and two lead changes before SF State zoomed ahead to stay at 14-11 on a pair of Eagle miscues and a Johnson non-returnable.  CSULA remained in contention down the stretch, pulling to within 21-19 on consecutive kills by Athwal and Carter.  After a timeout, Ostello took matters into her own hands, blasting three kills down the stretch and teaming with Kelsie Brennan on a block to help secure the hard-fought victory.  The Purple and Gold rose to the occasion when it mattered most, posting a match-best .345 hitting percentage during the set on 14 kills in 29 swings with four errors.
 
The Eagles were led by Carter, who tied for match-high honors with 14 kills, while Mora overcame a slow start, finishing with 11 kills and seven total blocks.  In addition, Bura notched a double-double with 31 assists and 10 scoops, while April Reyes collected 15 digs of her own in the loss.
 
The Gators, who find themselves in a five-way tie for first in the CCAA, will wrap up their southern California road trip on Saturday when they square off against Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson beginning at 7 p.m.  The Toros (6-7, 4-2 CCAA) are coming off a four-set home loss to Sonoma State on Friday.