CARSON -- Junior middle
Kylie Leopard hit at a sizzling .571 clip and hammered home 13 kills with just one attack error to lead Cal State Dominguez Hills to its most complete effort of the year in a 25-12, 25-12, 24-26, 25-20 win over visiting UC Merced in CCAA action today in the Torodome.
The Toros hit .324 as a team in the decision, moving to 2-10 overall and 2-3 in CCAA play.
CSUDH dominated the opening set, tallying 15 kills against just three errors for an efficient .414 hitting percentage. After taking a 3-0 lead, the Toros extended that edge to 14-7 behind a couple Leopard kills, and to 17-8 thanks to kills by Leopard and
Ryann Bennett. Up 21-12, a Bobcat attack error gave the Toros an opening, and three-straight points off of
Jaidan Alexander's serve put Merced away, bolstered by a pair of
Natalia Walden-Schulz putaways.
The hosts took an early 2-0 lead in set two, before Alexander's strong serve that included two aces gave CSUDH an 11-3 lead. After the visitors closed the gap to 12-8, the Toros rolled off an 8-0 run thanks to
Giovannina De Sisto's serve and two more bombs from Leopard, with Walden-Schulz putting the final hammer down on set point for a commanding two sets to none lead.
UC Merced took a tightly-contested third set that led to a 2-0 set four lead, but CSUDH roared back with four-straight points, never to trail again. Up 11-10, the Toros went on a 5-0 run to take control of the set, and despite Merced closing to within 22-19 late, an
Anna Sanzaro kill and Bobcat attack error gave the Toros match point, with UCM's final attack error setting off a raucous celebration in the Torodome.
Alexander and Bennett chipped in 11 kills apiece, while
Malia Jones led all defenders with 18 digs in the win.
Four Toro starters in Leopard (.571), Sanzaro (.375), Bennett (.348) and De Sisto (.333) hit over .300 for the match, with the quartet making just five unforced errors.
The Toros will look to make it two-straight tomorrow night, hosting CCAA newcomer Fresno Pacific for a 5 pm showdown.
