UCSD upsets #18 Sonoma State in 1st round, 3-1
ANCHORAGE – UC San Diego outside hitter Danielle Dahle ripped 20 kills on .314 hitting Friday to propel No. 6 seed UC San Diego to an 15-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-20 upset of No. 3 seed Sonoma State in the first round of the NCAA Div. II West Regional Volleyball Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center.
The Tritons (20-11) also got 14 kills and 15 digs from junior Meagan Wright and 23 digs from libero Amanda Colla to knock off their California Collegiate Athletic Association rivals.
The nationally 18th-ranked Seawolves (26-4) – the CCAA regular-season and tournament champions – were led by 14 kills and seven digs from outside hitter Lexi Riddick, while setter Calan Seitz produced 18 assists and 17 digs.
Trying to repeat as West Region champions, Sonoma State controlled the first set easily, outhitting UCSD .312 to .040. But the Northern Californians’ momentum would stall midway through the second frame as their 13-9 lead was wiped out by a 16-5 Triton run.
UCSD continued its good play and pulled away late in the fourth, getting a match-high 42 assists from setter Heidi Sierks and nine kills from reserve outside hitter Kameron Cooper to seal the victory.
The Tritons move on to Saturday’s 6 p.m. AST semifinal against the winner of No. 2 seed Western Washington and No. 7 seed Point Loma.
