Toros Unable to Go Distance in Pair of Five-Set Losses

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LOS ANGELES -- After playing just one five-set match last season, the new and improved Cal State Dominguez Hills volleyball team already has been pushed to the limit in four of its first six matches, including a pair of 5-set losses today at the CSULA/CPP Classic.

The Toros fell to Azusa Pacific in the opening match, before Point Loma returned the five-set favor in the second match after CSUDH bested the Sea Lions in five a week ago at the PLNU Seaside Classic.

The story of the 22-25, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 10-15 loss to APU was the Cougar offense as it tallied 64 kills and a .201 hitting percentage compared to just 49 kills and a .179 percentage for the Toros.

APU used a 30-19 kill advantage to take the first two sets, before the Toros rallied with wins in the following two, eeking out a 26-24 advantage in kills.

The deciding set, however, saw the Cougars jump to a quick 6-0 lead and never look back in the 15-10 win.

Abbey Prusa (pictured) led the Toros with 13 kills and just 3 hitting errors, while Azieanna Smith also tallied 13 kills. Elizabeth Krieger posting a double-double of 12 kills and 18 digs for the Toros, but APU boasted four players in double-figure putaways, led by a combined 36 kills by Jackie Landers and Mattie Shelford and 48 assists by Sophie Burns.

The more physical Toros earned a huge advantage at the net wtih 3 solo and 18 block assists compared to 2 solo and 10 block assists for the Cougars, with APU notching 70 digs compared to 67 for CSUDH. Junior middle Whitney Lee contributed to the block advantage with 3 solo and 3 block assists on the afternoon.

In the nightcap 23-25, 18-25, 25-18, 25-10, 11-15 loss to PLNU, CSUDH again got off to a slow start after the Sea Lions connected for 26 kills compared to just 19 in the first two sets.

CSUDH, however, rebounded with 27 kills in the next two set wins to knot the match, before taking a 6-3 lead in set five.

PLNU, however, rattled off 7 of the next 11 points to tie the decider at 10-10, keeping the pedal on the Toros en route to a 15-11 set five win.

Krieger led teh Toros with 14 kills while chipping in 17 digs, with Lee contributing 11 kills and Prusa 10.

CSUDH, now 2-4, concludes the tourney with a match-up against Cal State San Marcos tomorrow at 2 pm.

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