LA JOLLA, Calif.? The 15th-ranked UC San Diego women's volleyball team got off to a slow start and could not recover in a 25-17, 25-23, 25-21 loss to No. 21 Cal State L.A. on Friday night. With the loss, the Tritons drop to 6-2, 0-1 California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Golden Eagles improve to 9-0, 2-0 CCAA. The Tritons held a 23-21 lead in set two, but CSULA scored four straight points to win the set. The Tritons led by as many as six points in the third set, but CSULA rallied for the sweep. Sylvia Schmidt led the Tritons with nine kills on .500 hitting.
Cal State L.A. was paced by Gabriela Bulawczyk and Ursula Vieira with 11 kills apiece.
The Tritons' Roxanne Brunsting had a match-high 18 digs and Michelle Torres added 11 digs. Elaine Chen had a double-double with 11 digs and 28 assists. Hillary Williamson and Kimberly Carpenter chipped in with eight kills apiece. Kaitlin Potter recorded a team-high six blocks.
For the fifth time in eight matches, the Tritons dropped the first set of a game. CSULA scored 13 of the first 16 points to take a commanding 13-3 lead. UCSD would pull as close as four points at 20-16 after a Schmidt kill, but UCSD ran out of time as the Golden Eagles closed out the set 25-17.
Set two was the closest of the night as the teams would tie nine times with four lead changes. The Tritons opened up a 22-20 lead on a CSULA attack error. The Tritons led 23-21 after a CSULA service error. The Golden Eagles responded with a block and Vieira kill to tie the set. A Bulawczyk ace, followed by another Vieira kill gave the set to CSULA at 25-23.
The Tritons took a quick 4-1 lead in the third set after an ace by Janessa Werhane. UCSD opened up a 13-7 lead on Williamson's kill. With the Tritons leading 15-11 after a Schmidt block, CSULA scored seven straight points to gain an 18-15 advantage. Williamson's kill pulled UCSD within 22-20, and Potter's ace made it a one point set at 22-21. CSULA followed with a kill and ace of its own to force match point. A Triton attack error ended the set and match in favor of CSULA.
UCSD is back in action on Saturday night when it hosts Cal State Dominguez Hills at 7:00 p.m. in RIMAC Arena.
