Toros Volleyball Cant Close Out Sea Warriors as Hawaii Pacific Sweeps CSUDH

Carson, CA – Senior Sophia Lopes' fourth double-double of the season of 18 kills and 12 digs coupled with 12 kills from Randi Johnson was not quite enough to get the Toros over the hump as the visiting Sea Warriors of Hawai'i Pacific University were successful in their first trip to the mainland, sweeping the Toros 30-26, 30-27, 30-24. With the loss CSUDH falls to 1-10 of the season while HPU pulls to .500 at 5-5.

Down 8-2 in game one the Toros slowly began chipping away at the HPU lead, eventually tying the game at 21-21 on a Sea Warrior attacking error and then taking their first lead on the next play courtesy of a kill by freshman Ashley Clark.

The teams tied four more times with the last at 26-26 on a kill from Lopes off a dish from senior Kayleigh Spratt.

The Sea Warriors would not be denied, however, and after a Toro attacking error to break the tie, Antje Buskies dropped an ace and Kelly Balanay and Leslie Schipper finished off game one with back-to-back kills.

Game two saw the Toros jump out to an early 5-0 behind strong serving, including a pair of aces by freshman libero Melissa Velasco.

CSUDH kept one step ahead of the Sea Warriors for most of the game until a kill by Cari Kahn knotted the game at 22-22.

After another tie at 23-23, HPU used three kills by Schipper and a CSUDH attacking error to build a 27-23 lead and eventually closed out the Toros.

After the intermission both teams came out with a purpose, with HPU wanting to end the match and the Toros trying to live to see another game.

The teams battled to eight ties and found themselves knotted at 23-23 after a hard-fought battle.

CSUDH rattled off three consecutive errors to give HPU a little breathing room at 26-23 and, after a Sea Warrior service error that gave the ball to the Toros, Buskies responded with her 15th kill of the night which seemed to break the Toros' back as HPU finished off the game and completed the sweep.

HPU was led by Buskies' 15 kills, while Schipper and Balanay added 11 and 10 kills, respectively.

In addition to the double digit kills by Lopes and Johnson, Clark added nine kills and 12 digs while Velasco picked up 10 kills in the back row.

The Toros continue CCAA play on the road this weekend, traveling to Sonoma State and Humboldt State this weekend before returning home to host Point Loma Nazarene on Tuesday, September 18, with first serve scheduled for 7:00 pm in the Torodome.

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