October 22, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO – Four Otters achieved career-highs as the Otters won a five-set thriller over San Francisco State University in California Conference Athletic Association (CCAA) volleyball on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Main Gymnasium. With the victory, Cal State Monterey Bay improves to 7-16 overall and 3-10 in the CCAA.
Junior #Alisha Thomas# earned her second consecutive double-double, leading the Otters with 21 kills in addition to 17 digs. Thoma-s joined classmate #Katie Bos# (21), freshmen #Rheann Fall# (19) and #Dionna Lucas# (20) in setting career-highs. Sophomore #Dana Grimm# dished out 44 assists along with a .500 hitting percentage (6K, 12TA). Junior #Kerri Sudarsana# added 13 kills and a .269 clip.
The Gators were paced by junior Beth Perkins 21 kills, 14 digs and two blocks.
The Otters jumped out to a 6-1 advantage but SFSU rallied back after a timeout to tie it at 12-12. CSUMB pulled away at the 14-14 mark on a kill by junior #Elizabeth Hanna#. Two consecutive kills by Thomas gave the Otters a 19-16 lead. Sudarsana's kill gave CSUMB their first set point at 24-21. Two SFSU kills and a ball handling error by Grimm tied the set at 24-24. After the two sides traded scores, Sudarsana gave the Otter's their third set point and finally captured the frame on a Gator attacking error. For the set, CSUMB hit a season-high .302 with Sudarsana leading the way with an .857 clip (6K, 0E, 7TA).
The second set was close from the start, with neither team able to open up more than a one-point lead until CSUMB finally did so on a kill by freshman #Tiffaney Riggs# at 12-10. The Gators quickly caught up and then pulled away to tie the match at a set apiece.
SFSU continued their momentum into the third set, taking a 7-1 lead. The Otters rallied back with a 10-4 run ending on a kill by Fall at 11-11. The Gators once again pulled away on another run to take a four-point lead and closing out the set.
Down 2-1 entering the fourth set, CSUMB took advantage of Gator hitting errors and three Otter service aces to take a 12-3 advantage. The Otters dominated the set as Sudarsana once again led CSUMB with a .800 hitting percentage (4K, 0E, 5TA), forcing a fifth set.
The final set began with a kill by Thomas to give the Otters a 1-0 lead. SFSU went on a three point run on a kill by Perkins and two Otter hitting errors. CSUMB closed the lead by one on a Sudasana kill and tied it at 5-5 on a hitting error by Perkins. A dink by Grimm gave the Otters a 10-8 lead. Fall pounded a kill to make it 14-9, and the Gators made their sixth hitting error of the set to end the frame, 15-9. The Otters outhit the Gators, .200 to -.038, in the final set.
The Otters travel south to take on No. 16 UC San Diego on Saturday, Oct. 25. First serve is at 7 p.m.
