![\"Cal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/Bakersfield.png\")
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Next Match:<\/p>\n
Cal State Bakersfield<\/p>\n
11\/13\/2026 | 6 PM<\/p>\n
\n Nov. 13 (Fri) \/ 6 PM
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\n \u00a0Cal State Bakersfield
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History <\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n SACRAMENTO\u2014UC San Diego women’s volleyball dropped a five-set battle to Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon at The Nest. The Tritons (11-14, 7-7 Big West) nearly pulled off a reverse sweep, ultimately falling by set scores of 20-25, 18-25, 25-23, 27-25, 15-17. The Tritons forced the deciding set by erasing a 24-22 deficit in the fourth, but the Hornets (14-11, 9-5 Big West) took the fifth 17-15.
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\nMolly McCluskey<\/a> led the Tritons with 15 kills, 18.5 points and five total blocks. Gia Rivera<\/a> added 12 kills, a team-high four service aces and 16.5 points and Ireland McNees<\/a> also finished with 12 points. Brynne McGhie<\/a> finished with 36 assists and 10 digs. Paulina Baillie<\/a> collected a team-high 17 digs and added four assists.
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\nHOW IT HAPPENED
\nIn the first set, the Tritons erased a three-point deficit midway through, getting a McCluskey kill, a Madison Johnson<\/a> kill and a Hayden Shanafelt<\/a> ace to tie the Hornets at 13-13. The Tritons stayed within 22-20 on a Sac State service error, but the Hornets scored the final three points to take the set 25-20.
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\nThe Hornets moved in front early in the second set and stretched the advantage to as many as 20-11. The Tritons found points late from a Lucia Barroso<\/a> kill and blocks involving McCluskey, Barroso and Johnson, but Sac State finished off the set 25-18.
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\nIn the third set, the Tritons built an early 6-1 advantage behind a pair of aces by Rivera. UC San Diego extended its advantage 13-4 with service pressure from McNees midway through the set. The Hornets battled back to tie the set at 19-19 after a seven point scoring run by the home team. The Tritons held on to close out a 25-23 win to extend the match.\u00a0
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\nThe Tritons erased the Hornets’ 24-20 lead in the fourth set and finished off a 27-25 set win. Rivera’s kill started the late push, then she served four straight Tritons points, including two aces, while McCluskey added back-to-back kills to put the Tritons ahead 25-24. After Sac State tied it at 25, McNees answered with a kill and Jaedyn Houston<\/a> served the closing ace.
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\nUC San Diego created the first separation of the fifth set with McCluskey serving, getting a Johnson kill, a McCluskey ace and two McNees kills to turn a 4-4 tie into an 8-4 lead. After the Hornets later pulled even at 11-11, Kaliya Ndiaye<\/a> had back-to-back kills to put the Tritons ahead 14-11. Sac State tied it at 14-14, and after the Tritons moved back in front 15-14, the hosts scored the final three points to take the set 17-15.
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\nTRITON TIDBITS<\/p>\n