MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — Cal State LA’s women’s volleyball team, coming off an exhilarating five-set win over No. 3 Wayne State in an NCAA Championship Quarterfinal match on Thursday, will return to the court Friday in the first of two semifinals at the UPMC Events Center on the campus of Robert Morris University.
Cal State LA (22-10) will face No. 2 seed Missouri-St. Louis (34-1), which advanced to the semifinals with a four-set win over No. 7 seed Anderson, on Friday at 2 p.m. PST. The No. 6 seed Golden Eagles (22-10) are seeking their first-ever appearance in the national championship game in their fourth-ever trip to the semifinals. No. 1 seed Tampa will face No. 4 seed and defending national champion West Texas A&M in the other semifinal.
Three of the four remaining title hopefuls – Cal State LA, Missouri-St. Louis and West Texas A&M are returning to the semifinals for the second consecutive year. For Cal State LA, it’s the first time in program history it has made back-back appearances in the Elite Eight, let alone the Final Four.
Another key stat for the Golden Eagles came from Jameson Sanders, who received 37 serves in the match without an error. Cal State LA’s passing, especially over the final two sets, was outstanding. Cal State LA had 13 kills and just two errors in the fourth set and then an incredible 12 kills with just two errors the fifth set. Wayne State had only one hitting error in the final set, but Cal State LA got to 15 with 12 kills, two aces and the one attack error.
Missouri-St. Louis, ranked No. 4 in the nation, overcame a slow start to beat Anderson, 19-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-21 in its quarterfinal match on Thursday. The Tritons are led by first-team All-Americans setter Caitlin Bishop and outside hitter Delaney Humm and third-team All-American outside hitter Lexi Rang. The Tritons reached the semifinals last season and fell to eventual champion West Texas A&M in four sets.
Cal State LA and Missouri-St. Louis will be meeting for the first time.
See photos and video highlights from the game below:
Video: Cal State LA women’s volleyball team celebrating their victory in the locker room. (Credit: Myles Bridgewater-Jackman/Cal State LA)
Photo: Cal State LA women’s volleyball team on the court. (Credit: David Hague for Cal State LA)
Photo: Junior Haley Roundtree, spiking the volleyball. (Credit: David Hague for Cal State LA)
Photo: Junior Emily Elliott, serving the volleyball. (Credit: David Hague for Cal State LA)
Photo: Cal State LA Head Volleyball Coach Juan Figueroa. (Credit: David Hague for Cal State LA)
Photo: Cal State LA Assistant Volleyball Coach Alexis Crimes. (Credit: David Hague for Cal State LA)
Photo: Cal State LA Women’s Volleyball team celebrating their victory with their fists in the air. (Credit: David Hague for Cal State LA)
Photo: Cal State LA’s Incoming President Berenecea Johnson Eanes and Athletics Director Daryl Gross. (Credit: David Hague for Cal State LA)
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California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 26,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.
