ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - For the second-straight night, the UC San Diego women's volleyball team came out on the losing end of a five-set match, falling at Sonoma State Saturday.
Scores in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) match at The Wolves' Den were 28-26, 21-25, 21-25, 25-22 and 15-12.
Records-wise, UCSD is now 8-7 overall and 4-3 in the CCAA. SSU stands at 10-3 and 6-1. Sonoma is now in first place alone, while UC San Diego is tied for fifth. Both teams are receiving votes in this week's national poll.
The Tritons were defeated in five frames Thursday at Humboldt State.
"It was a tough roap trip, losing two five-set matches," said UCSD head coach Ricci Luyties. "I feel like all of our losses this year have been matches that we had chances to win."
As has been the case all season long, Danielle Dahle (La Mesa/Grossmont HS) and Meagan Wright (San Diego/Bonita Vista HS) were neck-and-neck in statistical output for the Tritons. Dahle finished with 19 kills, 19 digs and 22.0 points, while Wright collected 19 kills, 18 digs and 21.0 points. Each also had four blocks, two solos for Dahle.
Kameron Cooper also had a strong night for UCSD. The middle had 20.5 points on 17 kills and six blocks (one solo). Rebecca Seaberry had seven blocks and Heidi Sierks amassed 52 assists to go along with 20 digs.
The Seawolves got 19 kills from Caylie Seitz. Kaitlyn Connolly led all players with 24 digs.
Both teams were tough at the net with SSU totaling 16 blocks and UCSD 14.
After winning the first set in extra points, the Seawolves founds themselves down 2-1 after the Tritons won the next two. Sonoma State hit a match-low .023 in the second set and .122 in the third. However, things changed quickly as the Wolves hit .227 in the fourth and a match-best .281 in the fifth.
In the fifth set, a four-point Triton run put them up 10-9, but SSU came back from a timeout and answered with four-straight points to go up 13-10. UC San Diego got back within one at 13-12, but Lexi Reddick downed back-to-back kills to ice it for the Seawolves.
"If we can figure out how to finish off some of those close matches, they'll get the confidence that they can beat anyone," said Luyties. "We have to put this behind us because we have Cal Poly Pomona coming up and they're playing as well as anyone in the conference."
For the second time this season, UCSD hosts a trio of CCAA matches next week. The Tritons entertain Cal Poly Pomona (Oct. 6), Cal State East Bay (Oct. 9) and SF State (Oct. 10), all at 7 p.m.
During Saturday's match, this year's UCSD Athletics Hall of Fame inductee banners will be unveiled at RIMAC Arena as part of Homecoming/Hall of Fame Weekend.
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