ROHNERT PARK, Calif-  In a season full of statement wins, the Sonoma State volleyball team saved the best for last on Saturday night as they came from two sets behind to beat No. 11 UC San Diego in front of an enthusiastic Seawolf Gym crowd.  The win pushes the Seawolves' record to 23-6, 15-5 CCAA.  UC San Diego drops to 21-6, 15-5 CCAA.

The Seawolves fell behind early on Saturday, losing by the narrow margins of 25-23 and 27-25.  Sunk in a 2-0 hole, the Seawolves clawed their way out with a 25-21 win in set three, setting up a thrilling set four. 

In the fourth, Sonoma trailed 21-16 before a kill by Kristy Sather changed things.  SSU proceeded to go on a 6-0 run on the serve of Kelsey Dall, taking a 22-21 lead.  Serving set point, the Seawolves ended things on an Ali Walker kill.

In the fifth, the Seawolves fell behind 3-0, but again, they refused to go away, scoring five of the next six points to take a 5-4 lead.  The score would be tied at nine, ten, and eleven before the Seawolves went on a 4-0 run to end the game.  Brooke Moore and Lindsay Brown scored the final point with a block.

Sather, in her final home game, led all players with 22 kills.  Rikki Buckshnis also turned in an efficient night, needing just 24 attempts to produce 14 kills for a .542 hitting percentage.  Brown was tremendous all night at setter, racking up 52 assists and Taylor Krenwinkel led the way with 31 digs. 

Rebecca Bailey paced the Tritons with 16 kills.  Sylvia Schmidt had 15 and Hillary Williamson posted 14.  Elaine Chen led with 58 assists and Roxanne Brunsting tied Krenwinkel for game-high honors with 31 digs.

The Seawolves out-hit the Tritons .236 to .195 and they had eight blocks to UCSD's six.

Sonoma State finishes the regular season in a tie for second in the CCAA with UC San Diego and Cal Poly Pomona.  They will now await word from the NCAA regional committee regarding the post-season. 

The Seawolves were ranked eighth in last week's NCAA West Region rankings.  Eight teams advance to the regional tournament, but there are three automatic berths.  That means that since no Pac West is in the top eight, they will displace one of those teams.  Cal State L.A., ranked No. 7 in last week's polls, lost twice this weekend, possibly opening the door for Sonoma State's first post-season berth since 1993.

The NCAA selections will be announced on Sunday night around 7:00 pm.  The NCAA is running a selection show, which can be found here:  NCAA Selection Show.

Box Score

GAME NOTES:  Sonoma State's 23 wins are second in school history behind their 24 wins in 1997 (that came in 37 matches)...at 23-6, the Seawolves' winning percentage (.793) is by far the best in school history...Kristy Sather now ranks ninth in school history with 735 kills...Rikki Buckshnis passed the 200-block mark for her career and now ranks sixth all-time...Sonoma State has beaten UC San Diego at home in three of the last four seasons...the Seawolves closed out the regular season with three straight wins, two of them over teams ranked in the top 20...the Seawolves are the first team from the North to place second in the CCAA since the league expanded in 1998.