MIAMI, Fla. - With the bullseye on their backs after taking over the top spot in the NJCAA poll, the Golden Eagles responded, beating Daytona State College 25-18, 25-23, 25-16 and #10 Palm Beach College 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 30-28 Saturday in the Miami Dade CC Tournament.
CSI cruised early against Palm Beach, winning the first two games. But a sloppy third game that saw the Golden Eagles commit 11 hitting errors, put CSI in a hole it couldn't get out of.
The Golden Eagles battled back in game four and both teams served for game point more than once. With CSI on the verge of losing and going game five, Larissa Dos Santos crushed a ball to tie the game at 28. A hitting error by Palm Beach followed by a match-winning kill by Tawnee Luafalemana gave CSI the win.
Luafalemana led the Eagles with 16 kills and five blocks. Alycia Wodke added 13 kills, 18 digs and three aces. Harr finished the match with 47 assists and Luana Thompson had 17 digs.
Against Daytona State, three players finished with double-digit kills, led by Tawnee Luafalemana's 15. The middle blocker had just one error and added one block.
Alexandra Espinosa posted 11 kills and 14 digs, while Alycia Wodke had 10 kills and 10 digs. Regan Harr ran the offense for 41 assists.
CSI, 15-1 overall, opens its Scenic West Athletic Conference season Tuesday at home, hosting Salt Lake CC at 7 p.m.