HONOLULU — The San Francisco State volleyball team split a pair of matches on the final day of the 2022 Magic Island Classic presented by Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra. The Golden Gators came from behind to take down Hawai'i Hilo in five sets (18-25, 20-25, 25-12, 25-20, 15-13) to start the day and fell in five sets to No. 25 Chaminade (25-21, 25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 15-12) in the tournament finale.
- The Gators notched their first program win over the Vulcans (0-5), having dropped previous meetings in 2017 and 2018.
- Tamiya Wilson recorded 17 kills over UHH and Rebecca Rendahl added 15 kills in the win. Wilson topped that performance with 18 more versus the Silver Swords. Katelyn Sonnier recorded 15 and Josie Collier had a dozen in the loss.
- Kimberly DeBoer had a pair of big matches with 46 assists versus UH Hilo and 49 assists in the loss to Chaminade.
- Kimberly DeBoer and Wilson were named to the All-Tournamnent Team.
In set one, the Gators led 7-5 but a couple of attack errors gave the Vulcans the lead at 8-7. The Gators regained the lead a few points later on a Rebecca Rendahl kill but two more Gators errors and a Nikki Logan kill gave the Vulcans an 11-9 advantage. The deficit grew to as large as six and the Gators pulled to within two on another Rendahl kill but the Vulcans closed out the set on a 5-0 run. In set two, the Gators found themselves trailing by five, 12-7. The Gators eventually pulled within three and made a late run but back-to-back kills gave the Vulcans a 2-0 match advantage.
The Gators raced out to a 5-1 lead in set three and set the tone for the rest of the match. A four-point run extended the lead to 13-6 and SF State closed out the set on a 7-1 run. The Gators staked another early lead in set four, 9-4, thanks in part to three straight kills from Sonnier and back-to-back kills from Chloe Henning. The Vulcans threatened with a four-point run that cut the lead to one and even grabbed a one-point lead but the Gators responded with a 7-2 run and closed it out on a Collier kill.
A Vulcans attack error and a
Brianna DeBoer service ace gave SF State a 2-0 lead in the deciding set. Wilson had a couple of kills and
Cynthia Beall placed one of the Gators' twelve service aces to extend the lead to three. UHH countered with four-point run to take the lead but the Gators punched right back with a six-point lead, capped by a pair of Cheyanne Hike aces. The Gators staved off a late 5-1 run from the Vulcans and Wilson slammed down a kill for the win.
The Gators dropped the first set to Chaminade but raced out to a 7-2 lead and took the second set to even the match at one set apiece. Down 21-20 in set two, Sonnier recorded a kill that sparked a 5-2 run. SF State took a 3-1 lead in set three and led 13-12 on a Collier kill but couldn't hold the lead. Chaminade went on a 6-1 run and finished the set on a 5-0 run to regain the match advantage. The Gators trailed 10-9 but strong service powered a 6-0 run that gave the Gators a 15-11 lead. SF State led the rest of the set and forced a fifth set thanks to an 8-0 run that included four Sonnier kills and a pair of Hike service aces. In set five, the set was knotted at 6-6 but three Gators attack errors gave the Silver Swords a 12-8 advantage. SF State pulled to within two but Brooklen Pe'a killed it to secure the Chaminade victory.
San Francisco State will next head to the Seaside Invitational hosted by Point Loma. They'll face the host Sea Lions on Thursday, September 1 at 5 p.m., Concordia on Friday, September 2 at Noon, and Simon Fraser on Saturday, September 2 at 9:30 a.m.
