LOS ANGELES, Calif. ? Natalie Facchini became UCSD's all-time leader in career digs as the 23rd-ranked Tritons defeated the 19th-ranked Golden Eagles 30-23, 30-23, 28-30, 31-33, 15-7 on Wednesday night on the Cal State L.A. campus. Leading 2-0 in the match, the Tritons nearly closed out CSULA in games three and four, before shutting the door in game five with a convincing 15-7 win. Facchini recorded 18 digs, giving the senior libero 1,393 in her career, passing former Triton Leslie Punelli. Rebecca Bailey had a team-high 23 kills to go along with her five blocks and four aces. Setter Elaine Chen spread the ball around as Sylvia Schmidt (15 kills), Amber Ries (13 kills) and Casey Wilson (12 kills) each reached double figures. With the win, UCSD improves to 12-6, 6-4 CCAA, while Cal State L.A. drops to 10-7, 6-4 CCAA.
In the first game, CSULA led 20-15 after a service ace. The Tritons responded with a Ries kill, followed by a Wilson and Ries block, the first points of a five point run to tie the game at 20-20. With the score tied at 23-23, a Bailey kill and Schmidt ace helped the Tritons score the final seven points of the game to take it at 30-23.
The Tritons found themselves in an early hole in game two, trailing 13-5. Bailey recorded four kills in a 10-1 UCSD run, giving the Tritons a 15-14 edge. With the score tied at 19-19, Facchini served up three straight aces in a six point run, pushing the Tritons ahead 26-20. Hannah Gary closed the game with a kill at 30-23.
CSULA looked to be cruising in game three, leading 22-16. The Tritons chipped away and cut the deficit down to one point on several occasions, the last at 29-28. The Golden Eagles would hold off UCSD and take the third game 30-28.
In the fourth game, the Tritons opened up the first small edge, leading 14-10, forcing CSULA to call timeout. CSULA went on a run to tie the game at 18-18 and continued to take a 20-18 lead. The game would continue to go back-and-forth, as the teams each held leads. CSULA led 28-26 before a Bailey kill and service ace tied the game at 28-28. The teams would continue to sideout until a CSULA error gave the Tritons a shot at match point, leading 31-30. CSULA responded with a kill, followed by a UCSD error to regain a game point of its own. CSULA was able to put down the final kill at 33-31 and force the decisive fifth game.
Schmidt and Ries started the fifth game with a block, followed by two Michelle Torres aces to lead 3-0. The Tritons kept the pressure on with three Schmidt kills to lead 8-3 when the teams changed courts. The Tritons continued its run scoring five straight points, the last on a Chen ace to lead 14-4. Bailey put down the final two kills of the game and the Tritons had the match.
UCSD is back in action on Saturday when it returns home to face Cal State Dominguez Hills. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m. in RIMAC Arena.
