Box Score
LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.’s women’s volleyball team shook off a slow start and roared back to post a big California Collegiate Athletic Association victory.
The Golden Eagles fell behind 2-0, but rallied to beat Cal Poly Pomona, 21-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-16, 15-8, Friday night in the Eagles Nest. Cal State L.A. (19-7, 15-4 CCAA) won for the 10th time in its last 11 matches.
The Golden Eagles, who dropped their first four five-set decisions this season, have now won back-to-back matches in five sets.
Gabriela Bulawczyk had a tremendous match for the Golden Eagles with 22 kills, 16 digs, two solo blocks and a hitting percentage of .463.
Mary Laupepa tied a school record with nine service aces and also had 10 kills and three blocks. Laupepa tied the mark originally set by Lizelle Jackson in 2002.
Elizabeth Diaz and Kristin McNeese had 12 kills each for the Broncos (10-16, 7-12), who dropped their second consecutive five-set decision.
Jasmine Davis had 38 set assists and seven kills for the Broncos, while
Kaylynne De La Rosa had 56 set assists and 14 digs for the Golden Eagles.
Cal State L.A. had a 63-54 edge in kills and outhit the Broncos, .245-.219. The Broncos had a 9.5 – 7 advantage in blocks. Laupepa’s nine aces gave the Golden Eagles a 9-4 edge in that department.
The Broncos started quickly and grabbed the first two sets. Cal State L.A. was able to close a 17-12 deficit to 18-17 after a kill by Mora and a Cal Poly Pomona attack error, but the Broncos scored the next three points to resume control. A kill by Diaz gave the Broncos the first set, 25-20.
Cal State L.A. jumped out to an 8-4 lead in the second set, but Cal Poly Pomona rallied and took the lead for good at 14-13 after a kill by Taylr Kreutziger. The Broncos got back-to-back aces from Lindsey Poulos to open up a 24-16 lead and then ended the set at 25-20 after a kill by Kreutziger.
After the intermission, the Golden Eagles came roaring back. Cal State L.A. opened up quick 10-5 lead and led comfortably throughout. A kill by Mora, an attack error by the Broncos and another kill by Mora got the Golden Eagles back into the match.
The Golden Eagles raced out to a 16-5 lead in the fourth set with Laupepa serving for four aces in an 11-0 run that broke a 5-5 tie. The Golden Eagles got to set point after a block by
Zuzana Cizova and Laupepa and then sent the match to a fifth set after a kill by Laupepa.
Bulawczyk was on fire in the fifth set, pounding down five kills to help Cal State L.A. grab a 6-1 lead. The advantage grew to 8-1 after a kill by Hamilton and a solo block by Bulawczyk. After Cal Poly Pomona made it 9-3, the Golden Eagles got a kill from Hamilton, an ace by Laupepa, a block by Mora and Hamilton and a kill by Hamilton to make it 13-3.
A kill by Mora got the Golden Eagles to match point at 14-5 and, after Cal Poly Pomona cut the deficit to 14-8, a kill by Cizova ended the contest.
Cal State L.A. will return to action with a home match against Cal State San Bernardino beginning at 7 p.m.