HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Sonoma State volleyball team dropped its first conference match of the season Friday night against Cal State East Bay. The match once again took five sets and another nailbiter for the Seawolves which had them drop to 7-1 in CCAA play and 13-4 overall. The Pioneers gained some ground in the North Division title chase going to 4-3 in conference play (10-5 overall). The scores were 22-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 19-17.
The first set was a battle, with the teams tying the scores at 19-19 and 22-22, but a late three-point run by the Seawolves was just what the road warriors of Sonoma State needed. After a kill, and her third of the set by senior setter
Courtney Seda, the Seawolves cashed in on some bad luck by the home team when a ball handling error by the setter, and a hitting error helped the Seawolves out tremendously in taking the first set.
In the second set, the gift giving didn't keep coming as Cal State East Bay found their way. The Pioneers quickly jumped out to a 7-1 advantage, and the Seawolves never really recovered and a blow out ensued and visitors ended up losing by six. Junior Middle Blocker for the Pioneers Deja Thompson was the main source of offense as she totaled six kills in the set.
In their last match the Seawolves found themselves in the same situation in the third set, and ended up losing to the home team. Possibly learning from past experiences, Sonoma State found a way to get the important third game when they split the first two sets. Sonoma State had good leads in the set but only to almost lose it near the end. While Sonoma State helped their own cause with an ace by sophomore libero
Megan Bohorquez, and a kill by freshman rightside
Amy Trephan, it was once again two errors by the home team that helped the Seawolves take the two set to one advantage.
In the fourth set it was a battle of runs by each team, but this time there was no gift giving at the end of the set. This time the Pioneers found their offense from Junior outside hitter Kiki Leuteneker who tabulated eight kills on the set. The 6'2 outside was nearly unstoppable in the set as she had zero hitting errors.
Once again the Seawolves have found themselves in familiar territory. On the road, and in a deciding set it was dig deep time. Head Coach
Bear Grassl called an uncustomary early time out at 3-4 in favor of the home team, and this could have been the jumpstart that was needed. Very quickly Sonoma State went on a huge run and started running away in the match and had sat on match-point with a lead of 14-9. Unfortunately for the Seawolves, an uncustomary service error and Kiki Leuteneker scoring on four consecutive kills, tied the score at 14-14. The match then went to overtime as the teams continue to exchange jabs but no one landing the knockout punch. Unfortunately for the Seawolves it was two errors on their own that helped the home team knock off the conference leading team and winning the set by the score of 19-17.
STATS OF INTEREST:
- The two-headed monster of senior Kelsey McIntire and junior Morgan Annala led the team with 14 kills apiece.
- Four players had double digit kills on the evening -- Bohoroquez, Seda, C. Wiesner and Seitz.
- Cal State East Bay player Kiki Leuteneker led all players with 20 kills on the evening.
- The Pioneers are now 7-1 in matches that go five sets this season. The Seawolves are 1-3.
WHAT'S UP NEXT:
The Seawolves have no time to dwell as they now have to regroup and make the drive to Seaside for another North Division matchup. Cal State Monterey Bay is coming off of a three game sweep of San Francisco State and hope to extend their modest win streak to two. Cal State Monterey Bay also lost in the fifth set to Cal State East Bay, losing 15-13. Game time in Seaside on Saturday is set for 7:00 PM.
One more road match versus Stanislaus State will soon be approaching on Tuesday, Oct 10th. The Seawolves swept their earlier meeting at home. Finally a very well needed home match vs. Humboldt State on Saturday, Oct. 14th. Match time is set for 5:00 PM.
