FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton women's volleyball fell to UC San Diego in four sets (19-25, 25-19, 13-25, 20-25) on Saturday night at Titan Gym. The Titans moved to 7-17 overall and 2-10 in Big West play. 

Marisa Nakata led the Titans with a career-high 17 kills, nine digs and two block assists. Hannah Hass added eight kills and four blocks, while Kahea Carvalho finished with 21 assists and 12 digs. Libero Mia Feldhaus recorded a match-high 23 digs.

Fullerton traded points early with UC San Diego before the Tritons pulled away late in the first set. The Titans hit .152 in the frame, led by Nakata and Hass, who each put away key kills to keep the set close. Sarah Schubert added a service ace to tie the score at 9-9, and Fullerton stayed within reach until a late Tritons run closed it out 25-19.

The Titans responded in the second set to even the match at 1-1. UC San Diego opened with a 2-0 lead before Hass scored through the middle to get Fullerton on the board. Lira Pukl Verdel came off the bench and tied the set twice with back-to-back kills. Two blocks from Pukl Verdel and Hass gave the Titans a 10-6 advantage, and Hass followed with her eighth kill to extend the lead to 14-7. Fullerton built the margin to 18-7 before the Tritons answered with a 4-0 run, forcing a timeout. Elon Smith delivered a solo block for a 22-16 lead, and Ketesia Hall closed the set with a kill for the 25-19 win.

UC San Diego regained control in the third set, hitting .419 accompanied with a late 5-0 run to secure a 25-13 win. Fullerton trailed 10-5 before kills by Hall and Pukl Verdel cut the deficit to 11-8. Hall and Wiles added kills, and Smith and Hall combined for a block to slow UC San Diego's momentum. 

Fullerton opened the fourth set with a 2-0 lead on a block from Hass and Smith but couldn't hold off UC San Diego's late push. Fina Tuinauvai came off the bench to provide a spark with multiple kills, while Nakata added five kills in the frame. The Titans hit .200 with two team blocks, but the Tritons closed the match 25-20.

The Titans continue their home stretch next weekend against UC Riverside and UC Davis. Fullerton is set to face UC Riverside on Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. before hosting UC Davis on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. in Titan Gym. 

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