FULLERTON, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton women's volleyball dropped a three-set match to UC Santa Barbara Saturday evening at Titan Gym.
The Titans could not overcome a formidable Gaucho offense that hit at a .417 clip in the first set and .268 in the match. UC Santa Barbara took set one before Cal State Fullerton nearly came out on top in the second and third periods, ultimately falling to drop its record to 9-5 on the season and 3-3 in Big West play.
Julia Crawford led all Titan hitters with seven kills to go along with a team-high 11 digs. Danielle Jefferies added six kills on a .286 hitting percentage, while Naia Stewart and Lyla Traylor each tallied five kills. Elizabeth Schuster had a match-high 27 assists and Bianca Martinez recorded a team-high six blocks for the Titans.
The Titans jumped out to a 13-10 lead in the first set following a block from Stewart and Martinez and a kill from Stewart. Jefferies later added a kill to stop a 4-0 Gaucho run and tie the set at 14-all. UC Santa Barbara then scored 10 unanswered points to bring the period to match point. The Gauchos then finished off the set, 25-15.
UC Santa Barbara opened set two up with a 9-5 run before the Titans answered with a 4-0 run of their own to tie things up at 9-9. Back-to-back aces from Malie McClure later tied the set at 16 apiece. Teams then traded points, as a kill from Crawford and another from Traylor tied the set at 19-all. UC Santa Barbara scored three straight before a Gaucho attack error brought the Titans within two, 22-20. UC Santa Barbara used another 3-0 run to take the set, 25-20, and go up 2-0 in the match.
S2 | @bianca_belizia and Stewart with the rejection! ��#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/f1I7GXeFke
— Titans Volleyball (@Fullerton_WVB) October 9, 2022
Cal State Fullerton opened the third set with a 7-4 run, highlighted by back-to-back kills from Fonua and a block from Martinez to force a Gaucho timeout. The Titans maintained their lead, as kills from Stewart and Jefferies put the team up 10-7. UC Santa Barbara then used a 5-0 run to go up 12-10 but the Titans hung around, as a Koanui ace and Stewart kill brought the score to 19-17 with the Gauchos on top. Dominique Velarde then tallied back-to-back aces to tie the set at 21-all.
S3 | Back-to-back aces from @niquevelarde and we're tied at 21!#TusksUp pic.twitter.com/JDGmBO4JAc
— Titans Volleyball (@Fullerton_WVB) October 9, 2022
A Jefferies kill tied the set at 22 but the Gauchos finished strong, using a 3-1 run to take the set, 25-23, and complete the sweep.
The Titans hit the road next week with matches at UC Irvine and UC San Diego. The Titans will first take on UC Irvine on Friday, October 14, at 7:00 p.m. PT.
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