FULLERTON, Calif. – Strong performances from Kayla Neto and Bre Moreland led Cal State Fullerton to a 3-1 (26-24, 25-19, 21-25, 25-22) victory over UC Riverside on Saturday evening at Titan Gym.
Moreland steered the Titans (13-12, 7-5 Big West) with 15 kills and 19 digs to record her 16th double-double of the year. Neto kept her double-double-double streak alive, stretching it to 13 matches, with 10 kills and 18 digs against the Highlanders (6-20, 0-12).
UC Riverside was its own worst enemy on Saturday night, committing 31 attacking errors as the Highlanders attacked at a clip of .087. The Titans totaled 76 digs, led by Gabrielle Dewberry's match-high effort of 20, while CSF also totaled 11 blocks.
Leah Best led the Titans at the net defensively with two solo blocks and three assists, while also claiming match point with her sixth kill of the evening. Julie Consani directed the offense with 35 assists.
UCR's Amanda Vialpando led all players with 16 kills and added 14 digs, while Ashley Cox also recorded a double-double of 11 kills and 10 digs. Setter Emily Borges added 36 assists and 17 digs.
In the first set, the Titans hit at a clip of .242 led by Lauren Kissell's four kills. There were 11 tie scores and seven lead changes.
For the second straight match, Fullerton took a 2-0 lead into the break. The Titans hit .219 in the first two sets, while limiting UC Riverside to a .080 attacking percentage as the Highlanders committed 16 attacking errors.
As Fullerton looked for the sweep in set three, UC Riverside refused to comply as the Highlanders attacked at a rate of .219 with Vialpando landing four of the Highlaners' 11 kills, while CSF committed 10 attacking errors.
The fourth set belonged to the Titans as Neto and Moreland combined for nine of CSF's 12 kills.
Cal State Fullerton will hit the road next week, playing at Long Beach State at 7 p.m., Thursday, followed by a 7 p.m. match at UC Irvine on Saturday.
Notes: The Titans have won 16 consecutive matches against UC Riverside…CSF is 5-5 in four-set matches…Bre Moreland and Kayla Neto each recorded their 16th double-doubles of 2012, respectively…the Titans are an undefeated 7-0 when winning the first two sets.