BEAUMONT, Texas – Cal State Fullerton women's volleyball dropped two matches at the Lamar Invitational, falling to Lamar 3-1 (13-25, 25-22, 21-25, 21-25) and Abilene Christian 3-0 (23-25, 20-25, 25-27), on Friday. The Titans enter their final nonconference match against Texas Southern on Saturday with a 4-7 record. 

Ketesia Hall led the Titans with 20 kills and 15 digs, while Hannah Hass contributed 12 and Kaia Herweg tallied 10. Kahea Carvalho assisted in 39 of the team's 72 kills, as Mya Tillman followed with 13 assists. Despite these performances, the Titans hit a combined .092 compared to their opponents' .229. At the net, Lira Pukl Verdel, Elon Smith and Sarah Schubert powered the Titans to 16.5 blocks. 

Lamar 3, Cal State Fullerton 1

The Titans found their first and only lead of the opening set on a Hannah Hass kill, giving them a slight 6-5 advantage over Lamar. Hass (12 kills, 1 block) and Ketesia Hall led the Titans in the first set, recording six of the team's 10 kills. However, Lamar outhit the Titans with 11 kills on .478 hitting, taking the first set 25-13 for a 1-0 match lead.

Kaia Herweg (7 kills) stopped Lamar's momentum to start the second set, opening with a kill for a 2-0 lead. Hall (13 kills) and Zariah Crosby powered the Titans to an 11-9 lead, each adding a kill before Lamar rallied to tie the set at 11-11. Hall and Herweg combined at the net late in the set, and Hall added an attack to tie the score at 20-20. A monster block by Crosby and Herweg, along with a kill by Hass, helped the Titans even the match at 1-1 with a 25-22 victory. 

The Titans overcame a 2-0 deficit in the third set, going on a 5-0 run to take a 5-2 lead. A successful challenge by Fullerton awarded Herweg her fifth kill of the match, giving the Titans a 6-5 advantage. Two consecutive blocks by Lamar allowed the Cardinals to take control of the set, winning 25-21 to regain a 2-1 match lead. 

Fullerton hit a match-best .250 in the fourth set with 13 kills and just four errors. Lira Pukl Verdel, Herweg and Hass tallied kills for a 5-4 lead over the Cardinals before Lamar pulled away with a 17-12 advantage. Hall fueled a short three-point run for the Titans, who trailed 20-19, but Lamar closed the match with a 25-21 win on a bad set by Fullerton. 

Abilene Christian 3, Cal State Fullerton 0 

Late rallies by Abilene Christian in each set handed Cal State Fullerton their third straight-set loss of the season (23-25, 20-25 and 25-27). 

Kahea Carvalho tied the first set at 12-12 with a kill after the Titans started the match in a 4-0 deficit. Fullerton took advantage of consecutive offensive errors by the Wildcats, along with two block assists by Hass, for a slight 23-21 lead. However, Abilene Christian worked a 4-0 to close out the set 25-23 for a 1-0 match lead. 

The Titans opened the second set with a 4-1 lead, highlighted by two Hall kills and a service ace by Hass. Abilene Christian then went on a seven-point run to pull ahead. Fullerton battled from behind for a 17-15 lead, but the Wildcats answered with a 7-0 run to take the set 25-20. 

Fullerton and Abilene Christian battled through nine ties and six lead changes in the third set, forcing extra points. After trailing 20-18, the Titans went on a late 4-0 run, featuring two kills by Herweg, a kill by Carvalho, and a service ace by Feao Saluni, to take a set point (24-22). The Wildcats refused to back down, evening the score at 25-25. Former Titan Aubrey Beaver sealed the sweep for Abilene Christian with two blocks.

Titans conclude nonconference play on Saturday against Texas Southern at 8:00 a.m. PST. 

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