CARSON, Calif. – The Sonoma State volleyball team opened CCAA play with a dramatic five set victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Seawolves moved to 4-5 on the season and 1-0 in conference play with the 22-25, 25-19, 25-18, 21-25 and 18-16 win.
Sonoma started slow in the opening set, falling behind 7-2 and trailing much of the way. They used a run halfway through the set to pull ahead at 20-18. However, the Toros responded by recording seven of the next nine points to take the early 1-0 lead.
The Seawolves came out looking hungry in the second, breaking a 6-6 tie with a 6-1 run to jump out in front and lead the rest of the way. SSU later used runs of four and three to keep the Toros at arm's length to even the match. Sonoma finished with 13 kills in the set and a match best .273 hitting percentage.
The third set picked up the same way with the Seawolves leading wire-to-wire and never trailing. Sonoma notched five of the first six points and built a 12-5 lead. CSUDH fought their way back to tie the set at 15-15 but the Seawolves responded by closing out the game with a 10-3 run.
Brooklyn Jackson tallied three of the final four points of the set with kills.
The Toros would take the fourth to force a fifth and deciding set for the match. They would then take an early advantage in the fifth, jumping out to a 6-3 lead. Jackson and
Jenn Trephan combined for four straight kills to bring the set to a 7-7 tie. After the two teams traded points,
Kiana Richardson and
Amy Trephan picked up two kills apiece but Sonoma still trailed 13-11. Two straight errors by the Toros and another kill by Jackson gave the Seawolves match point. CSUDH took the next and process repeated until the game sat at a 16-16 tie. Jackson added another kill, her fourth of the set and
Riley Beyma finished off the match with a service ace.
Six Seawolves finished with at least seven kills, led by Richardson with 12.
Jenn Trephan,
Jessie Hobbs and Jackson tacked on nine kills with
Amy Trephan and
Leilani Hallman adding eight and seven respectively.
Jenn Trephan finished just one kill shy of her second straight triple double, adding 25 assists and 12 digs.
Sonoma finished with 58 kills as a team as well as a season high 15 blocks. Hallman and Hobbs combined for 13 blocks with
Jenn Trephan pitching in five more.
The Seawolves are back in action tomorrow afternoon when they close out their SoCal road trip with a match against Cal State LA.
