SAN FRANCISCO – Shades from the last time these two teams met in 2014, Sonoma State entered the match the top-team in the conference and took a quick 2-0 advantage.  Unlike the last matchup between these two rivals, the SF State women's volleyball team's rally fell short, falling to the No. 24 Seawolves in five, 17-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 11-15.
 
Sonoma State (14-3/10-1 CCAA) entered tonight's match hitting .261 which is among the leaders in the conference.  Through the first two sets, their attack looked every bit as advertised, hitting .328 through the first two periods.  Defensively, the Gators (9-10/7-5 CCAA made adjustments and held Sonoma State to a .179 attack percentage in sets three through five.
 
Continuing the trend of exceptional play in the back row and at the net is what propelled the Gators to wins in the third and fourth set.  Jessica Nicerio had what is becoming an almost typical stat line: 27 digs, three assists and three aces.  Arianna Cruz had a stellar evening, picking up 15 digs with an assist.  At the net Christine Johnson was a wall, recording 6.5 total blocks.  The Gators combined for 13.0 blocks on the evening as well as 86 digs. 
 
Freshman opposite Chantelle Williams provided a huge spark for the Gators off the bench.  She finished the night with nine kills and a career-high seven block assists.  Jaclyn Clark finished the night with her ninth kill of the season, tallying 16 kills and 11 digs.  Clark continues her march to 1,000 kills.  With the 16, she now has 971 for her career.
 
Catherine Feathers also recorded a double-double on the night, tallying a match-high 48 assists with 16 digs.  Taylor Brownlee finished the evening with 13 kills.  Samantha Krakower had eight kills while Johnson had nine.
 
In the first two sets the Gators combined to hit just .133, recording 21 kills while hitting into 11 errors.  The first set belonged to the Seawolves from the beginning, as the frame featured just one tie, which came with the score knotted up 1-1 following a bad set.  From there SSU took control taking the frame 25-17.
 
In the second set the Gators battled the Seawolves much tighter.  SF State knotted the set up at 15-all following an emphatic kill by Johnson.  The Gators hit .189 in the set, and once again it was the defense by the Seawolves that proved to be the difference.  Sonoma State recorded five blocks in the second set, while hitting .441 on the attack, eventually taking the set 25-19.
 
Sets three and four the Gators' attack came to life, hitting a combined .220 after the break.  In the third set, SF State hit .216 while holding the Seawolves to a .158 attack percentage.  At the net, the Gators tallied five blocks propelling SF State to a 25-21 win.  Williams was on fire for the Gators in third, as she had three kills and two blocks.  Brownlee was also a force, tallying five kills.
 
The fourth set the Gators once again put the pressure on the Seawolves, the Gators recorded two service aces in the set.  At the net back-to-back blocks by Johnson and Feathers gave the Gators the set 25-20.
 
In the fifth and final frame the two sides were knotted up three different times, but the Seawolves broke the tie for good at four all and would go on to take the set 15-11 following a kill. 

The Gators return to action on Thursday, Oct. 22 when SF State makes the short trip to Seaside, Calif. to take on host Cal State Monterey Bay at 7:00 p.m. at the Otter Sports Center.

Complete Box Score (HTML)

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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.

Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments.  For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.