LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Cal State L.A. trailed for most of the fourth set of its CCAA conference women's volleyball match with Cal State San Bernardino Friday night, then rallied to take down the Yotes, 3-1, in a battle of nationally ranked teams.
The Yotes were ranked No. 12 in NCAA Div. II while the Golden Eagles were No. 25. The loss dropped CSUSB to 8-3 on the season and 3-2 in conference while CSULA is now 6-7 overall and 4-1 in the CCAA.
Trailing 2-1 after three sets, the Yotes made an impressive start in the fourth only to fall short in a 26-24 nail biter after leading by as much as six points for most of the set.
CSUSB freshman outside hitter
Trinity Sheridan, who led the team with 18 kills on .308 hitting, put her team up 20-16 but L.A. scored four straight points to gain a tie at 20-20. Another kill by Sheridan put the Yotes up 23-21 but L.A. tied it again at 23.
L.A. took its first lead at 24-23 on a kill by Iane Henke (16 kills on .273 hitting) but Sheridan responded again with a kill off an assist by
Marlee Nunley to deadlock the set at 24-24. However, a service error by Sheridan and a kill by the Golden Eagles Emily Elliott (18 kills on .308 hitting) put down a kill for match point to prevent the Yotes from forcing a fifth and deciding set.
Cal State L.A. prevailed 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 26-24
Both teams were equal at the net, each recording 20 blocks in the match. CSUSB outhit the hosts, .223 to .216 and hit .306 in the fourth set, the team's best effort of the night. The Yotes came into the match hitting .287 as a team.
Helping Sheridan offensively for the Yotes were OH Sara Hoffmann with nine kills and
Ashley Robinson with eight on a .500 hitting night.
Jenna Patton, among the conference leaders in hitting percentage managed seven kills on .190 hitting. Patton and Hoffman both had four block assists.
Nunley posted a double-double with 33 assists and 14 digs. Libero
Shira Lahav led both teams with a season-high 27 digs.
"I'm proud of the effort our ladies put forth tonight against CSLA," said Head Coach
Kim Cherniss. "I thought the match was played at a fairly high level and statistically we did some very good things. L.A. was just a little better down the stretch.
Trinity Sheridan and
Ashley Robinson had a great night attacking and
Shira Lahav was relentless on defense."
CSUSB still leads the all-time series with the Golden Eagles 46-27 and had won eight of the last 10 meetings between the two teams entering the match.
UP NEXT:
The Yotes travel to Carson for a match in the Torodome against Cal State Dominguez Hills at 5 p.m. Saturday. The Toros lost to San Francisco State 3-1 on Friday night and are 8-4 overall and 3-2 in the CCAA. CSUSB has dominated the series 60-6 since 1987 and has won 58 matches in a row over the Toros. Watch the match live streaming on the CCAA network.
