LOS ANGELES, Calif. -
The 13th-ranked UC San Diego women's volleyball team was edged by 16th-ranked Cal State L.A. 22-30, 27-30, 30-18, 28-30 on Thursday night in Los Angeles. The loss drops the Tritons to 13-4, 5-3 CCAA and the Golden Eagles improve to 15-1, 7-1 CCAA. UCSD had several strong performers including Brianna Koche with 11 kills (.435) and seven blocks and Rebecca Bailey with 12 kills (.611), four blocks and two aces. Kimberly Carpenter had a team best 15 kills and Kim Adams ran the offense with 41 assists and UCSD outhit Cal State L.A. .212-.130.
In game one, UCSD led 12-10 after a Hannah Gary kill and CSULA attack error. Cal State L.A. scored four straight to lead 14-12. The Golden Eagles extended the margin to 21-13 and took game one 30-22.
After the Tritons scored the first three points of game two on two CSULA errors and a Carpenter kill, the teams would stay within two points of each other until game point. UCSD last led at 24-23 on a Koche kill. CSULA then recorded back-to-back kills to go back in front. A UCSD attack error ended game two at 30-27 CSULA.
Game three began like the previous two, as the teams battled to a 9-9 tie after another Koche kill. With Nicole Courtney serving, UCSD scored four straight points, part of a 13-3 Triton run. The Tritons then cruised to the 30-18 win, forcing a fourth game.
UCSD continued with its momentum from game three by jumping out to an 8-3 lead. CSULA would charge back and tie the game at 10-10. With the score tied at 16-16, Carpenter sent down a kill and Adams had two aces as part of a 5-0 run to put the Tritons ahead 21-16. Leading 26-22, CSULA rallied to score six straight and take the 28-26 advantage. Courtney ended the Triton drought to bring UCSD within one. Trailing, 29-28, the Tritons were unable to force a fifth game as Cal State L.A. sent down the game-winning kill, 30-28.
Other Triton performers included eight kills from Amber Ries and Laura Watkins led UCSD with 13 digs. Michelle Torres and Natalie Facchini also notched double-digits with 10 digs apiece.
UCSD is back in action on Friday, October 7th at Cal State Bakersfield. First serve is set for 7:00 pm on the CSUB campus.
