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SAN FRANCISCO – The 8th ranked UC San Diego Tritons spoiled the SF State Gators' home opener as they defeated their hosts in three sets (25-20, 25-12, 25-19) to improve to 9-0 overall and 1-0 in the CCAA. With the loss, SF State fell to 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the CCAA.
"UC San Diego is a tough team to play any time during the season," said SF State head coach Jill Muhe. "The Tritons definitely showed up to play and played well tonight."
The Tritons had a .309 hitting percentage led by Sophie Rowe's .400 percentage on 12 kills while Danielle Dahle added 13 kills for the visitors.
UC San Diego also had 10 total team blocks with Kameron Cooper's five total blocks pacing the way for the victors.
The Gators took an early 7-6 lead on a Triton service error, but the Tritons took an 11-9 lead as they took advantage of some SF State errors.
The Gators retook the lead another Triton error, 19-19, but UC San Diego scored five of the last 7 points to take the set 25-20.
The second set was tied at 5-5 when UC San Diego scored 10 of the next 14 points to take a 15-8 lead. The Tritons increased their lead to 18-11 on a Sara McCutchan kill and never looked back in the second set as they took a 2-0 match lead into the final set. The visitors won the second set 25-11.
After the break, the two teams played evenly with Kameron Cooper's kill giving UC San Diego a 11-9 lead. The Tritons increased their lead to 18-13 on a kill by Dahle.
SF State cut the deficit to 20-19 on a Melissa Horton kill, but the visitors closed out the set and match with five straight points capped by a Cooper kill.
The Gators hit for a .070 percentage with Horton's 9 kills leading the way. Jacquie Brice added 27 assists and Jessica Nicerio and Jaclyn Clark each had 10 digs.
SF State will return to the court tomorrow evening at 7pm, when the Gators host #22 Cal State San Bernardino. The Coyotes defeated No. 18 Sonoma State, 25-23, 25-21, 25-19 this evening in Rohnert Park, Calif.
"The CCAA is very deep and there is no easy match," added Muhe. "We just need come back out and get ready for another battle."
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