SAN FRANCISCO – On paper the match was virtually dead even, on the court little mistakes led to a straight-sets victory for the visiting Seawolves of Sonoma State.  The Gators hit .220 as a team and played terrific defense, but ultimately fell to Sonoma State 3-0 (18-25, 21-25, 18-25) Saturday evening at the Main Gym at the Don Nasser Family Plaza.
 
San Francisco State (1-8/0-1 CCAA) recorded 35 kills on 100 swings to hit .220, only hitting into 13 attack errors.  The Gators issue on the evening was not the attack, but over passes falling for kills and serve receive that kept SF State out of system.
 
Individually, the Gators had several impressive performances.  Freshman libero Emily Johns had a match-high and career-high 18 digs.  Haley Halpert came out of the intermission on fire and recorded 12 kills on the evening and hit a career-high .345. 
 
Meanwhile, up the middle the Gators were led by strong play at the net by Lauren Williams and Abby Griffith, the two combined for three of the Gators six total blocks.  Williams also tallied nine kills and hit .500 on the night.
 
Sonoma State (3-5/1-0 CCAA) had three players in double figures with kills.  Emily Papale, Rachel Andrews, and Caiti Wieser all recorded 11 kills on the evening.
 
In the opening set the two sides traded barbs early.  The Gators led early 7-6 before the Seawolves went on a small run and took control.  The Gators managed to cut the deficit to four several times but could not bring the set any closer.  SF State hit a team-high .242 in the frame, with 12 kills on 33 swings, but Sonoma State hit just a little better, recording 18 kills on 40 swings for a .350 attack percentage.
 
The second set played out very similar to the first.  The Gators had their opportunities early, but ultimately it was the efficient hitting of Sonoma State that carried the set.  The Seawolves hit .333 in the frame, while the Gators countered with a .184 attack percentage.  Williams crushed the ball in the set, recording five kills. 
 
In the third set SF State battled Sonoma State hard.  Following three kills by Halpert and a monster block at the net by Griffith, the Gators tied the set 14-14.  From there a 9-4 run by the Seawolves put the match away.  SSU hit a match-high .415 in the set, tallying 21 kills on 41 swings.  The Gators responded hitting .241.
 
SF State returns to action next Friday when they travel to Seaside, Calif., to take on Cal State Monterey Bay at the Kelp Bed. 

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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.

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