LOS ANGELES - In a battle of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) division leaders Tuesday night, the University of California San Diego women's volleyball team was swept by Cal State LA at University Gym. Scores were 25-22, 26-24 and 25-23.
UC San Diego (9-7, 6-2 CCAA) entered the match in first place in the league's South Division, but the victory by Cal State LA (11-6, 7-2) vaulted the Golden Eagles into the top spot.
"Everything was a little off tonight, the timing and precision just weren't there," said UCSD head coach Ricci Luyties. "Every time we had them in trouble, we couldn't execute our transition to offense smoothly."
Meagan Wright (Bonita/Bonita Vista) had 12 points, all on kills, for UCSD. She also added seven digs. Rebecca Seaberry recorded eight kills, Kayla Evans (San Diego/Del Norte HS) had a team-best 12 digs and Simone Froley finished with five blocks (one solo).
It was an off night offensively for both teams as UCSD hit .148 (33-15-122) and CSULA came in at .162 (46-25-130). The Tritons out-blocked the Golden Eagles, 9.5-5, but Cal State LA owned a substantial, 60-45 edge in the digs department.
Cal State LA scored the first five points of the match and never relinquished its lead in the opening set. UC San Diego saved three set points, but an Erie Williams kill gave the Eagles the win.
The second frame was the most competitive with 10 tie scores and three lead changes. The Tritons were strong early and owned an 11-7 advantage before the Golden Eagles won seven of the next eight points and led 14-12. Wright then erupted to put away five kills in a 6-1 run by UCSD. Cal State LA quickly tied it and it stayed close the rest of the way. At 23-21, UC San Diego was able to knot it again due to a pair of errors by the Eagles. The teams traded points before the home team took a 2-0 set lead following a kill and a service ace.
Set three was all Golden Eagles early as they stormed out to an 8-1 advantage. The Tritons were able to mount a 7-2 run to slice the lead to two as Wright and Jessica Rieble each had two kills in the span. However, CSULA took eight of the next 11 points and led 18-11. At 24-17, it looked as if the Eagles had the sweep locked up, but it wasn't that easy as UC San Diego saved six match points and got back within a single score. Four of the points came via Cal State LA errors. Setter Kelsey Molnar was finally able to put an end to the night with a kill.
For Cal State LA, Taylor Kushner had 12 kills and Lauren Gomez tallied a match-high 17 digs. Molnar accounted for four of the Eagles' six aces.
It was the first straight-set loss for the Tritons this season.
UC San Diego continues its three-match week at No. 19 Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, Oct. 14. The Tritons return home Saturday to host Cal Poly Pomona. Both matches start at 7 p.m.
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