Cal State L.A. Hands Toros Fifth-Straight Setback in Sweep

Alijah Gunsaulas finished with 12 kills in tonight's loss to CSULA

Box Score

CARSON -- Cross-town rival Cal State L.A. used a .307 hitting percentage to take a 3-0 sweep over Cal State Dominguez Hills tonight in Carson, extending CSUDH's winless streak to five-straight.

With the 27-25, 25-14, 25-21 loss, the Toros dip to 7-6, 0-5 CCAA, while the Golden Eagles improve to 8-5, 3-2 CCAA.

The visitors jumped to a 4-1 lead in the first, keeping the four-point cushion as late as 15-11 before three kills by Alijah Gunsaulus brought CSUDH to within one at 15-14. The Golden Eagles, however, ran off four-straight points of their own to regain momentum.

The Toros, meanwhile, answered back to tie the set as a Tarryn Luafalemana blast knotted the contest at 23-23, but a Toro attack error and block assist by CSULA gave the visitors a 27-25 first set win.

Cal State L.A. started set two strong, taking an early 11-4 lead on a Iona Lofrano hammer, stretching it to 14-6 until a Gonsaulus kill stopped CSULA's run. That stoppage proved short-lived, however, as CSULA maintained its 8-point lead late, despite three kills by Chelsea Almario.

Almario displayed her soccer ability after saving a block with her foot, an effort that led to a block assist and point for the Toros to make it 23-14.

That's as close as the Toros would get in the set as CSULA took the 25-14 win and a two sets to none lead.

The Toros found their rhythm in set three, taking an 8-5 lead on another Gunsaulus blast and holding a 14-13 lead on an Elizabeth Krieger kill.

CSULA, however, would take control of the set for good after consecutive Toro errors gave the visitors a 20-19 lead, and kills by Bethanee Boggs, Molly Lyons and Loreal Carter gave the Golden Eagles match point, with a Toro attack error sealing the Cardinal and Gold's fate in the 3-0 loss.

Gunsaulus tied with match-high honors of 12 kills on 33 swings, with CSULA's Iona Lofrano also putting down 12 balls in the match.

The Golden Eagles made 11 service errors compared to just three for the Toros, but CSUDH's 21 hitting errors made the difference.

CSUDH will look to notch its first league win of the year on Friday as Cal State East Bay pays Carson a visit, with first serve set for 7 pm in the Torodome.

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