ANOTHER FIVE-SET LOSS FOR VOLLEYBALL, THIS TIME TO UC RIVERSIDE
9/5/2009
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- UC Riverside’s Dominique Cowling had four of her match-high 22 kills in the decisive fifth set to lead the Highlanders to a 3-2 victory (25-21, 30-28, 20-25, 21-25, 15-11) over the Hornets in the second round of the Sacramento State Volleyball Invitational Saturday afternoon at Colberg Court.
Coupled with a 3-2 loss last night to Cal State Bakersfield, Sacramento State now finds itself 0-2 at the tournament with one match remaining tonight against Santa Clara (7:30 p.m.). With the victory, UC Riverside improved to 1-1 at the tournament and 1-4 overall this season.
The Hornets dropped to 2-3 overall, and all three of the team’s losses have come in five sets, including a 3-2 loss at Syracuse last Saturday. Sacramento State won its first two matches of the season, but has since lost three straight.
After the two teams split the first four sets, Sacramento State held a brief 3-2 lead in the fifth, but UC Riverside went on a 9-4 run to take an 11-7 lead. During the run, the Highlanders had two aces and forced the Hornets into three attack errors. Sacramento State cut the lead to 12-10, but could no closer.
The Hornets had two set points during a close second set at 25-24 and 27-26, but could not pull out the victory.
Sacramento State hit just .136 and allowed the Highlanders to gather 17.0 team blocks as the Hornets had trouble setting and attacking throughout the match. In fact, only two Sacramento State players with multiple kills hit better than .143, comprised of senior Melissa Melcher (seven kills, .583) and sophomore Anna Schoener (seven kills, .353).
UC Riverside had more kills (59-53) and team blocks (17.0-8.0) than Sacramento State, and hit for a higher percentage (.172-.136). Cowling’s 22 kills were seven more than any other player on the floor as she had a match-best 69 total attacks. Kelley Quinn added 14 kills and 19 digs for UC Riverside, Shannon Moyneur had nine blocks and Bianca Endersby added eight blocks.
For Sacramento State, senior Desiree Hoyum (15 kills, 24 digs) and freshman Janelle Currey (13 kills, 18 digs) each posted their third straight double-doubles. Currey also had three aces and now has a team-high eight aces this season compared to just two errors.
Schoener had a team-best six blocks to go along with her seven kills, freshman Sydney Kordic had 16 digs and sophomore Breanne Menees added 14 digs. Melcher’s seven kills and .583 hitting percentage were both career highs.
In this morning’s early match, Santa Clara defeated Cal State Bakersfield, 3-1 (18-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-11).
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- UC Riverside’s Dominique Cowling had four of her match-high 22 kills in the decisive fifth set to lead the Highlanders to a 3-2 victory (25-21, 30-28, 20-25, 21-25, 15-11) over the Hornets in the second round of the Sacramento State Volleyball Invitational Saturday afternoon at Colberg Court.
