LA JOLLA, Calif.- The 17th-ranked UC San Diego women's volleyball team rallied down 0-2, but came up short 27-30, 26-30, 30-28, 30-26, 8-15 against 9th-ranked Cal State L.A. on Friday night. The loss drops UCSD to 18-7, 10-6 CCAA while Cal State L.A. improves to 21-2, 13-2 CCAA. The Tritons were led by Kimberly Carpenter with 19 kills and Nicole Courtney added 18 kills and 24 digs. Rebecca Bailey just missed a double-double with 11 kills and nine blocks. It was the last home match for UCSD's Laura Watkins who had 22 digs. That total moves Watkins closer to the UCSD single-season record with digs as she now needs 10 more for the record.
In game one, the Tritons scored 10 of the first 13 points to take an early seven point lead. Courtney had three kills and Koche had two in the run. Cal State L.A. would tie it at 19-19, the first tie since 1-1. Tied at 22-22, CSULA took the lead for the first time in the game on a UCSD service error. The Tritons closed to within 29-27, but an a block by Airess Padda gave the Golden Eagles the 30-27 win. Game one was played well on both sides as the Golden Eagles hit .316 and UCSD hit .306.
Game two was similar to game one, this time the Tritons scored 11 of the first 13 points for the 11-2 lead. Leading 18-9, Cal State L.A. began to chip away by scoring six straight points to get back in the game, trailing 18-15. Leading 22-20, CSULA's Melissa Zapiain and Padda put down back-to-back kills to tie the game 22-22. The Tritons then fell behind by two points and would come back to tie it again at 26-26. CSULA then put down four straight kills, the last by Tanya White for the 30-26 CSULA win.
Down two games to none, UCSD trailed early in game three at 12-9 and later 25-21 after a Calvalcanti kill. The Tritons stormed back to tie the game at 27-27 on a Halvorsen and Bailey block assist. After Cal State L.A.'s Calvalcanti put the Golden Eagles up 28-27, UCSD's Bailey tied the game with a kill of her own. Amber Ries then sent down a kill to force game point and the Tritons would win 30-28 after a Cal State L.A. attack error.
In game four, the Tritons jumped out to an early 10-5 lead and saw it shrink to 12-10. The Tritons went on a small run to lead 17-12 and the Tritons would not led CSULA get closer than three points, the last time at 21-18 and 29-26. Ries then sent down a kill to force game five, 30-26.
The fifth game started with CSULA scoring three consecutive points, but the Tritons got right back into it on kills by Natalie Facchini and two by Carpenter to take the lead 4-3. At that point, the Golden Eagles put together a string of points to lead 8-4 when the teams changed sides. The Tritons would close to within 9-7, but Cal State L.A. closed out the match by scoring six of the last seven points. CSULA had two kills in the final game and hit .083. Unfortunately for UCSD, the Tritons committed 10 attack errors and hit -.143. Game five went to CSULA 15-8.
As a team, UCSD sent down 76 kills against CSULA's 59. CSULA outhit UCSD .208-.164 and outblocked UCSD 15-13.5. Both teams dug 82 balls.
Also in double figures for UCSD included Amber Ries with 11 kills and seven blocks, Facchini had 19 digs and Kristin Halvorsen had a match-high 68 assists.
UCSD is back in action on Friday, November 11 against Cal Poly Pomona. First serve is set for 7:00 pm in Pomona, Calif.
