SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team dropped a five-set heartbreaker to visiting San Francisco State on Friday afternoon in Hunter Gym. The final scores were 25-17, 14-25, 25-18, 18-25 and 15-12.
 
The Cougars (3-10, 0-5 CCAA) set a new program record with 18.5 team blocks. Freshmen Lauren Lee notched eight block assists and fellow classmate Faith Fortune collected seven block assists and one solo. Lee also led the Cougars with 15 kills while senior Taylor DeGraaf nabbed her second double-double of the season with 14 kills and 18 digs. Sophomore Samantha Flores tallied 28 digs.
 
The first set had the most ties in the match with three.  CSUSM led 7-5 following a kill by Lee before the Gators went on a 10-2 run. The Cougars were not able to get within five points the rest of the set, falling 17-25.
 
In the first point of the second set, CSUSM's never-give-up attitude enabled the Cougars to return a ball off rafters before finishing it with a block by Lee and junior Morgan Willis. Junior Taylor Harris followed with two consecutive service aces.  With the momentum shifted, the Cougars cruised to a 25-14 victory after hitting a match-high .235.
 
After the break, SF State raised its level of play and took a 7-3 lead out of the gate.  CSUSM cut the lead to one point on two different occasions on kills by Lee, but the Gators once again pulled away to take a 25-18 win.
 
The fourth set was all CSUSM as the Cougars jumped out to a 10-0 lead.  The Cougars never allowed the Gators within five points as they evened the match at two games apiece with a 25-18 win.
 
The Cougars played catch-up throughout the fifth set, closing the gap to within one point on eight occasions. Back-to-back kills by SF State's Taylor Brownlee put the Gators up 14-11 and she later finished the match with her 24th kill.
 
The Cougars return to the court in Hunter Gym on Saturday afternoon to host Cal State East Bay at 3 p.m.