Box Scores
Saint Martin's Seattle University
Bellingham, WA – The Toros finally broke into the win column in 2007 on day two of the Viking Classic with a sweep over Saint Martin's University (30-26, 30-22, 30-24). Sophia Lopes led the offense with her second double-double of the season with 18 kills and 16 digs while Jenise Espindola added 19 digs and seven service aces in the win, after CSUDH was swept by Seattle University (20-30, 24-30, 19-30) in the opener. With the split the Toros improve to 1-7.
Down 24-20 in game one, it looked as though the Toros were going to let another game slip through their fingers, but after calling a timeout coach Davenport rallied the troops behind six serves from Espindola, including three aces, to put CSUDH up 27-24 before three kills by Lauren Wells put the game away.
Game two saw the Toros get out early ahead of the Saints and never look back.
The Saints came out in game three eager to not give up the Toros' first win of the season by building a quick 6-4 lead, but an ace by Randi Johnson tied the game at 9-9.
SMU settled down and built a 16-12, but again with the game seemingly getting away coach Davenport called a timeout and the Toro comeback began with setter Kayleigh Spratt finding the duo of Wells and Lopes.
The two hitters combined for 10 Toro kills to help knot the game at 18-18, surging CSUDH ahead to complete the sweep.
In addition to Lopes' double-double, Wells added 15 kills while hitting .464 and Johnson chipped in seven kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Spratt dished out 40 assists while Marissa Anderson added seven kills in the win.
In the first match of the day, the Toros got off to another slow start against Seattle in game one as the Redhawks soared to 12-4 and never looked back.
After a kill by Schauna Porter to knot the game at 6-6 in game two, the Redhawks rattled off four straight points to build a 10-6 lead.
CSUDH did not back down to the surging Redhawks and capitalized on an SU serving error to shrink the deficit to just two at 19-17.
Nikole Thompson responded for SU will a kill to push the lead back to 20-17, which was as close as the Toros would get the rest of the game.
After back-to-back errors by the Redhawks to tie game three at 12-12, SU spread its wings and used an 18-6 run to take the game and complete the sweep.
Despite the rough match, a trio of Toro freshmen stepped up led by Taylor Thompson with 11 kills and seven digs, while Porter and Anderson added eight kills apiece in the effort. Spratt chipped in her second double-double of the season with 27 assists and 12 digs, while Espindola chipped in her third straight 10 plus dig performance with 15.
CSUDH begins its CCAA schedule this Wednesday, September 5, when they host No. 17 Cal State L.A, with first serve schedule for 7:00 pm. in the Torodome.
