UCSD defeated two middle-of-the-pack conference opponents in CSU Los Angeles and CSU Dominguez Hills. On Friday, the Tritons faced CSU Los Angeles, sweeping the Golden Eagles in a solid performance that highlighted UCSD’s depth.
Against CSU Los Angeles, the Tritons had five players with six or more kills, while sophomore Amber Hawthorne and junior Brittany Lombardi recorded 10 and 12 digs, respectively.
“This was a big win for us in a tough place to play,” UCSD Head Coach Ricci Luyties said to the UCSD Athletics Department. “We didn’t hit with great efficiency, but we were well balanced.”
The Tritons set the tone with a dominant first set, taking the game with a score of 13-25. In much closer games, UCSD won the second set 21-25 and the third set 26-24.
On Saturday, the Tritons won their fourth straight match against CSU Dominguez Hills (7-6).
Freshman standout Danielle Dahle came back to the forefront against the Toros. The outside hitter finished with another double-double, leading UCSD in kills with 16, while also recording 10 digs. Dahle — UCSD’s category leader in kills, with 290 on the season — has the third-highest kills per set in the conference.
Sophomore middle blocker Sara McCutchan also had a strong game, recording 10 kills.
UCSD swept the Toros — a team that beat UCSD at the start of the 2012 season — with scores of 21-25, 20-25 and 21-25.
“It was nice to get a win against a team that beat us badly the first time we played,” Luyties said to the UCSD Athletics Department. “I think it shows how much we’ve improved.”
The Tritons seem to have stepped up to the learning curve in their past few matches, and will hope to continue to improve as they near postseason play. Currently, UCSD (10-3) holds on to second place in the CCAA, behind CSU San Bernardino. The Tritons have nine more conference games until the post-season, and will return to RIMAC Arena for a match against Humboldt State this Friday, Oct. 26.
On Saturday, UCSD faces off against Cal Poly Pomona, both matches will be held at 7 p.m.
