A loss to Chico State this weekend snaps UCSD’s nine-game perfect record.

UCSD women’s volleyball posted its first loss of the season on Saturday, shattering it’s nine-game loss-less streak, after falling to Chico State in five sets. The loss will put the Tritons back in the national rankings. Before losing 9-3 to the Wildcats, the Tritons were tied for No. 10 in the AVCA National Poll.

Leading up to the bout against Chico, UCSD had only lost one set in its five games against conference opponents. Uncharacteristically, the Tritons went down two sets by the end of the first half.
“I think we just got off to a really slow start, which kind of hurt us,” senior Katie Condon said, an outside hitter who recorded 16 digs and 22 kills in the campaign.

The Tritons dug themselves out of the deficit, taking the third and fourth sets, but dropped the fifth game 11-15 despite the aforementioned efforts of Condon and six blocks from junior outside hitter Julia Freidenberg.

“I just think we needed to pick it up on our side,” Condon said. “They were definitely outplaying us, but I think it was a good lesson for us.”

Last week UCSD secured wins against Cal State Los Angeles and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Against Cal State Los Angeles, senior outside hitter Hillary Williamson tied a career high of 20 kills and 19 digs. In the same match, senior outside hitter Roxanne Brunsting was just short of a second triple-double, while Williamson led all players against Dominguez Hills with 13 kills.

On Friday, Sept. 23, the Tritons swept Cal State Stanislaus for their ninth straight win.

Saturday’s loss to Chico State should prove to be just a minor bump in the road, since UCSD still ranks No. 3 nationally in digs, No. 8 in kills, and No. 10 in assists.

The Tritons also have the leader in kills per set in Williamson, who leads the CCAA with 4.29 kills per set, while Condon — who continues to perform consistently — has 663 career digs along with 800 career kills.

“We’ll be stronger from this, and we’re going to be working hard in practice for next weekend,” Condon said.

The Tritons will head up to Northern California to face off against Humboldt State on Friday, Sept. 30, before taking on Sonoma State on Saturday, Oct. 1.