Volleyball | 8/28/2009 10:11:33 PM

Box Score [Box score]

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - The Western Oregon University volleyball team fell to Sonoma State in four sets, 25-16, 25-10, 22-25 and 25-23, Friday, Aug. 28, at the Seawolf Spike.

The loss was the second of the season (and the day) for the Wolves who fell to 0-2 as the Seawolves moved to 2-0.

Laura Sakala led the WOU squad with a .500 hitting percentage as she had nine kills on 15 attempts and just one error. Sylvia Herrold was the lone Wolf in double-figures in kills with 11. Cally Young led four Western Oregon student-athletes with 15 digs as Danielle English (14), Amy Herron (13) and Stephanie Beeler (12) each posted double-digit digs.

After falling hard in the first two sets the Wolves responded with a 25-22 victory in the third set. WOU took the lead early lead going up 17-10 before SSU battled back to tie the set at 21-21. The Wolves would then take four of the final five points for the set victory as Danielle Reese had two kills and Sonoma State helped with two hitting errors which included the final point of the set.

In the fourth, Western Oregon grabbed a four point lead at 17-13 before Sonoma State took seven of the next 10 points to knot the match at 20-20. The Seawolves however were still able to maintain that run, as it garnered the next three points on a kill, a service ace and a WOU hitting error, to take a 23-20 lead and go on to win the set and the match.

"We got hammered in the first two sets but we turned it around in the last two and we were able to become a better volleyball team tonight," said Brad Saindon. "I am not happy about the loss but I am very glad that we competed and got better as a team."

For the match WOU had nearly as many assists as SSU (43 to 49) but the Wolves were outhit in attack percentage .094 to .257.

The Western Oregon volleyball team will be back in action at the Seawolf Spike Saturday, Aug. 29 as it takes on another California Collegiate Athletic Association team, San Francisco State at 2:00 p.m.