September 8, 2006

Box Score

Carson CA – The Toros started off quickly, but faded just as fast as Chico State swept the Toros (30-26, 30-21, 30-18) in the Torodome Friday night, handing CSUDH its third-straight loss. With the defeat, CSUDH falls to 3-6, 0-3 CCAA on the young season, while No. 24-ranked Chico State improves to 6-1 and 2-1 in CCAA action.

The Toros got out of the gates quickly against the Wildcats, riding the arm of Sophia Lopes' (Los Angeles, CA/Santa Monica City College) five kills to jump out to a 14-12 lead. CSUDH would continue to capitalize on Wildcat miscues, extending its lead to 20-16 on a service error.

However, the Wildcat offense would awake and mount a strong comeback. A Lindsay Macias kill would knot the game at 21-21, and then a service ace and two more kills by Macias and one by Ruth Testman would stretch CSUC's lead to 25-22 before a Toro attack error finally sealed Chico State's come-from-behind game one victory.

In games two and three Chico State show show why they are the No. 24th-ranked team in the nation as the Wildcat offense recorded a .316 hitting percentage in game two to the Toros' .071, and a .270 hitting percentage to CSUDH's .057 in game three to run away with the three-game sweep.

The Wildcats were led offensively by Kelly Smiland and Macias with 11 and nine kills respectively, with Smiland hitting at a .400 clip. Chico State setter Erica Brick would dish out 39 assits and chip in three service aces and five digs in the effort.

For CSUDH, Lopes led the offense with eight kills, a .438 hitting percentage and one block assist. Penina Suddeth (Hesperia, CA/Hesperia HS) chipped in eight kills and Timary More (Torrance, CA/El Camino CC) added seven kills with a .375 hitting percentage and five block assists.

The Toros will next be in action tomorrow when they take on Cal State Stanislaus, with first serve scheduled for 7:00 pm in the Torodome.