SAN FRANCISCO –The SF State Gators' rally from a 2-1 set deficit fell short this evening in their five-set loss (21-25, 25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 12-15) to the visiting Cal Poly Pomona Broncos in a CCAA match-up at The Swamp. Melissa Horton and Jaclyn Clark each recorded double-doubles in the Gators' loss. Horton had 18 kills and 15 digs while Clark chipped in 11 kills and 15 digs.

"It was a battle this evening as we did a lot of things well that we've been working on during the week," said SF State head coach Jill Muhe. "We need to build on the positives that we had in the match and move forward."

Sophomore libero player Jessica Nicerio added 25 digs and four service aces for the Gators (8-9, 3-6 CCAA).

Cal Poly Pomona was led by Jessica Doerner's 17 kills to go along with her three service aces and five total blocks. The Broncos (5-12, 3-6 CCAA) had 15 total team blocks with Christen Williams and Alexa Hasen each with 7 blocks.

The first set had seven ties with the last one being at 16-16. The Broncos scored the next three points to take a 19-16 lead keyed by back to back blocks by Doerner and Nicolette Stork.

SF State cut the deficit to 19-17 on a Clark kill, but the Broncos increased their lead to 23-19 on an attack error by the Gators.

The Broncos scored two of the final four points including the final point on a Katie Colin to take the set 25-21.

The host controlled the second set as they came out the start of scoring the first four points.

The Broncos cut the Gator lead to 9-8 on a Doerner kill, but SF State took a 21-16 lead taking advantage of some Cal Poly Pomona hitting errors.

SF State closed out the second set scoring four of the final five points including three by kills by Jazmine Williams, Meagan Wright and Horton to even the match at 1-1.

After the break, the third set saw 16 ties including two lead changes. The Broncos built a 13-10 lead, but the hosts came back and tied the set at 18-18 on a kill by Horton.

The match saw more three more ties including at 22-22 on a kill by Kelly Ostello.

A hitting error by the Gators, gave the visitors the 23-22 a lead they would not relinquish as they held on for a 25-23 set three win to go up 2-1.

The Broncos tried to close the match in the fourth set, but the Gators would not let them. In the fourth set, there were 8 ties and six lead changes.

The match was tied at 20-20 on a kill by the Broncos' Alexa Hasen, but the Gators' Clark recorded a kill off of one of Jacquie Brice's 41 assists. Brice then recorded a service ace and Williams had a kill to give the hosts a 23-20 lead.

The Broncos scored the next two of the next three points to cut into the Gator lead, 24-21, but a Horton kill gave SF State the set 25-21 and evened the match at 2-2.

Cal Poly Pomona took a 6-3 lead in the final set and never looked back. The Broncos increased their lead to 12-7 before a time out by the Gators.

SF State scored the next three points with two coming on Nicerio aces to cut the Bronco lead to 12-10.

A hitting error by SF State gave the visitors a 13-10 lead, but the Gators would not go away as they cut the deficit to 12-13 capped by a Horton ace.

After a time out by Cal Poly Pomona, they scored the final points on a kill by Williams and an ace by Stork to take the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.

SF State will now go on the road for four straight road matches beginning with this Friday, October 18 at 7pm in Seaside, Calif., against Cal State Monterey Bay.

"To get road game wins in the CCAA is difficult," added Muhe. "We will keep working hard and see if we can steal a couple."

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