BOX SCORE UC San Diego def. #22 Sonoma State, 3-2 (21-25, 30-28, 22-25, 25-23, 17-15) -- Box Score
ROHNERT PARK -- Caylie Seitz hammered a season-high 20 kills and four other Sonoma State players recorded 10 or more kills, but UC San Diego survived an incredible 58 ties and 24 lead changes to rally from a 2-1 match deficit, then staved off match point -- twice -- in the deciding set to come from behind and defeat the host Seawolves (21-25, 30-28, 22-25, 25-23, 17-15) in a five-set thriller on Friday night at The Wolves' Den in Rohnert Park.
Sonoma State (11-5, 5-3 CCAA) has fallen into a fourth-place tie with Cal State Dominguez Hills in the conference standings, while UC San Diego (11-4, 6-1 CCAA) moves into a first-place tie with Cal State San Bernardino.
It was an all-too-familiar scenario for the Seawolves, as it was the second time in three days that they led a match 2-1, but couldn't close the deal. It looked as if SSU would be on their way to a four-set win over UCSD after taking a 18-15 lead in the fourth frame. However, the Tritons reeled off five of the next six points to take a one-point lead at 20-19. The Seawolves responded and eventually held a 23-22 on an
Ally Sather kill, but two Triton kills and a Seawolf attack error sent the match to a deciding fifth set.
True to form, both teams would continue their see-saw battle in the final frame, with no team leading by more than two points. In fact, it would be Sonoma State to lead by two on four separate occasions, including a 13-11 advantage. A UC San Diego kill and a service ace would knot the set at 13-13, but Seitz pounded a ball into The Wolves' Den hardwood to lead 14-13 and hold match point. UCSD came back with a kill by Sara McCutchan to even the score at 14-14, but it wouldn't last long as Seitz came flying in for another unstoppable kill to give SSU a 15-14 lead and, again, match point. The momentum would quickly shift and three straight kills -- two by Sophie Rowe and one by Kameron Cooper -- clinched the match for the Tritons, leaving the Seawolves in disbelief, yet again.
It ended a marathon of rallies, including one that crossed over the net 20 times before a point was even scored; it would be Sonoma State on the winning end of that rally, which gave SSU a 23-21 lead in the opening frame. The Seawolves would eventually go on to win that set, 25-21, putting them up 1-0 early in the match. The back-and-forth would continue in the second set, which featured a match-high 21 ties and 10 lead changes. It would eventually go into extra points, and even though Sonoma State would lead 23-22, the hosts would surrender the set by a score of 30-28, evening the match a one set apiece.
Twelve more ties and five more lead changes would exhaust both teams again in the third set, but the Seawolves eventually pulled away for the 25-21 win and the 2-1 match lead, setting up the come-from-behind drama that would unfold for the next hour or so.
Seitz (20), Sather (15),
Madelyn Densberger (13),
Regan Richert (13) and
Kelsey Hull (10) all smashed double-digit kills for Sonoma State, which had 73 in total and hit .246 as a team. The Seawolf defense was just as impressive, recording 95 digs, led by
Nicole Gragnola's 23, and 16 total blocks, including one solo and 10 assisted blocks by Richert.
Meanwhile, UC San Diego's Rowe matched Seitz's output with 20 kills, followed by 19 from Danielle Dahle and 13 from Amber Hawthorne. Rowe also shined on defense, making 25 digs and three assisted blocks.
Playing two five-set marathons in three days, Sonoma State won't have much time to rest up as another volleyball powerhouse in Cal State San Bernardino (9-6, 6-1 CCAA) comes to town in just a few hours. Saturday will feature a special matinee, as first serve between the Seawolves and Coyotes is set for 2:00 p.m. in The Wolves' Den.
