August 31, 2005

Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills juniors Courtney Spainhour (Redondo Beach, CA/El Camino CC) and Timary More (Torrance, CA/El Camino CC) paced the Toros with nine kills apiece, but visiting Biola capitalized on 14 Toro service errors to take a spirited 30-28, 30-23, 30-22 decision Wednesday night at the Torodome.

With the loss, CSUDH falls to 2-2 on the young season, while Biola improves to 4-1.

Game one saw the visitors take a quick 17-12 lead on one of Hannah Timboe's nine kills. The Toros would use two Spainhour kills and numerous Eagle errors to outscore BU 8-3, but Biola would regain control of the game as three Toro service errors gave BU three free points and an eventual 26-23 cushion. CSUDH would again knot the game at 28-28, the tying point coming on a BU attack error, but after an Eagle time out, a Brittany Wing kill and Toro attack error would give the visitors a 30-28 game one win.

Biola would use game one's win to jump to a quick 10-3 lead in game two. The Toros would narrow the deficit to as close as 11-8 on an Eagle attacking error, but strong serving by Timboe and Caroline Rutenbar would increase the BU edge to 22-14. Kills by Spainhour, More and Nicole Hoffman (Clovis, CA/Fresno CC) would keep the Toros within striking distance at 24-20, but the Eagles would put game two away, outscoring the Toros 6-3 the rest of the way as a Toro hitting error and Brittany Wing kill would end game two, 30-23.

Game three saw the two teams battle to an early 8-8 tie. The visitors, however, again would capitalize on strong serving and Toro hitting errors to take a decisive 20-13 lead. CSUDH would get as close as 23-18 on a BU attack error, but the Eagles would close out the match by outscoring the Toros 7-4 to take the 3-0 sweep.

As a team, the Toros were limited to a .053 hitting percentage while Biola managed to hit .129 on the evening. The Eagles, however, committed only one more service error than they had service aces, giving BU a decisive advantage at the service line.

Spainhour tied for match-high honors with 13 digs, while BU libero Heather Diliberto matched Spainhour's total to lead the Eagles.

The Toros take a week off before hosting former CCAA school Grand Canyon on Wednesday, September 7, for a 7:00 p.m. scheduled first serve in the Torodome. CSUDH then kicks off its conference schedule hosting Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State the weekend of September 9-10.