Carson, CA - Led by Penina Suddeth's (Hesperia, CA/Hesperia HS) seventh double-double of the season with 14 kills and 21 digs, CSUDH posted back-to-back conference wins for the first time since 2004 with a 30-25, 20-30, 30-28, 31-29 win over visiting Sonoma State this afternoon in the Torodome. With the win, the Toros improve to 6-10, 3-7 CCAA while Sonoma State falls to 6-8, 3-7 CCAA.
The Toros would come out swinging in game one, building an 11-5 lead behind six consecutive points behind the service arm of Suddeth, maintaining a comfortable lead the rest of the game as they outhit the Seawovles .316 to .143.
SSU would quickly build a 17-12 lead behind the serves of Megan Moore and Rosie Manton in game two.
The Toros would fight back, however, and knot the game at 19-19 on a kill by Courtney Spainhour (Redondo Beach, CA/El Camino CC), but SSU's Rachel Sagapolu would respond on the very next play to regain the lead for SSU, a lead which they would never relinquish.
After a slow start by both teams in the third frame, CSUDH would kick it up a notch and build a 16-11 lead.
Michelle Fletcher would halt the Toro run with a kill and start the Seawolf comeback, which would be completed on a service ace by Manton, knotting the game at 18-18.
The two teams would tie at 19-19, 20-20, 21-21, 23-23, 24-24, and finally at 25-25 before the Toros would finally scratch out the 30-28 win.
Game four would be an instant replay of game three, with the two teams tying seven times, the final knot coming at 29-29 on a kill by SSU's Katie LeBeau.
After a Toro time out, Suddeth would blast a ball to give CSUDH the lead, and for the second-straight game, Arreana Peoples (West Covina, CA/John A. Rowland HS) would be part of the wall that ended the game, winning the match for the Toros.
For SSU, Michelle Fletcher would record a match-high 18 kills while hitting .316. Sarah Illingworth, Rachel Sagapolu, and Lindsay Webb would all be in double figures with 11 kills apiece. Libero Lillian Harms would chip in 21 digs in the effort.
In addition to Suddeth's double-double, Peoples would continue her stellar play, recording 13 kills while hitting .321, also adding three block assists and two service aces. Timary More (Torrance, CA/El Camino CC) would hit .423 with 13 kills, while Spainhour chipped in 13 kills and nine digs in the win.
The Toros will next be in action on Friday, October 6, when they take on cross town rival and 16th-ranked Cal State L.A., with first serve scheduled for 7:00 pm in the Torodome.
