ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- Following a thrilling five-set win over Hawai'i Pacific, the Sonoma State volleyball team ran out of gas against host Central Washington, falling in three straight on Saturday night to end the Hampton Inn Wildcat Invitational with a 2-2 record. Junior
Caylie Seitz continued her stellar play, racking up 49 kills on the day, as the Seawolves close the book on non-conference play and look towards the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule.
Saturday's first match was anything but easy for the Seawolves as they had to go to five sets - and 19 points in the fifth - to put down the Sharks, 23-25, 25-23, 25-14, 23-25, 19-17. After the teams split 25-23 decisions in the first two sets, Sonoma State exploded for a 25-14 win in the third. Riding the hot hand of junior Seitz, the reigning CCAA Player of the Year, the Seawolves hit a match-high .484 to inch ever so close to victory.
The Sharks had other plans, though, nosing the Seawolves by that familiar 25-23 score in the fourth frame to set up a race to 15 in the fifth. Though Sonoma wouldn't trail in the fifth, they were tied many times, including at 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, before a service error and a
Regan Richert kill put the game on ice.
Seitz finished with an astounding 29 kills on 58 attempts. Richert was also impressive, tallying 16 kills - and just one error - for a game-high .441 hitting percentage.
Courtney Seda and
Lauren Tom split setting duties, combining for 54 assists.
The Seawolves had a hard time getting anything going in Saturday's nightcap, hitting just .197 on the night. While Seitz continued her torrid play, pounding down 20 kills - nearly half of the Seawolves' total for the match - it was all for naught as the Wildcats prevailed 25-20, 25-22, 25-22.
Madelyn Densberger supplied 10 kills and 20 digs,
Courtney Seda had 23 assists, and
Ashley Robinson was tops with three blocks.
The Seawolves will open CCAA play next weekend on the road at Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills.
