The SF State volleyball team kicked off its final homestand with a dramatic 3-2 win over CSU Monterey Bay Friday night.

The two teams had an even first set, exchanging points throughout the frame. The Gators were able to pull away with a 5-0 run and win the set 25-20.

Junior Jaclyn Clark attributed their set win to the strong team play and strong offense.

“We were just playing as a team,” Clark said. “We were passing and hitting well and everything kind of came together.”

SF State carried that momentum from the end of the first set into the second and came out strong. The gators cruised to a 25-13 set win and went into halftime with a 2-0 set advantage.

CSU Monterey Bay came out with more fight in the third and fourth and won each set 26-24 and 25-20 respectively.

The Gators 2-0 set lead had vanished and found themselves in a do-or-die fifth set to decide the game.

Head coach Jill Muhe said that getting back to basics was key in pulling out the set under pressure.

“I told them to try to get out early and grab momentum,” Muhe said. “We needed to do the things that we had been doing that made us successful.”

The fifth set had more drama with each team having an answer for each other’s score.

SF State was able to pull away and won the final set 15-11 and the game 3-2.

“We were happy to get that match in five,” Muhe said. “Monterey Bay battled back, and they pushed us and we pushed back and we were able to come out with the victory in 5”

Junior Jessica Nicerio came into today’s game needing one dig to tie SF States leaderboards. With a 28 dig game, she is now the record holder in digs with 1,302.

“I am super honored and excited,” Nicerio said. “I couldn’t have done it without my team.”

SF State returns to the court today to face off with CCAA foe CSU East Bay.