TURLOCK, Calif.--- Stan State opened its 2026 home schedule Thursday evening with a three-set loss to San Francisco State, falling 25-21, 25-18, 25-23 on Alopecia Awareness Night at Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena.
The Warriors fell to 4-7 overall, while San Francisco State improved to 4-7. Thursday's CCAA Pod Weekend match did not count toward the conference standings, leaving Stan State at 1-2 and the Gators at 1-3 in CCAA play.
Emily Meyer led Stan State with 11 kills, while
Fallon Freeman finished with nine kills on 17 attempts and hit .471.
Lauren Hamilton added five kills without an error, hit .556 and recorded three total blocks.
Lauren Gonzales led the Warriors defensively with 15 digs and added two service aces.
Reagan Wilkerson recorded 16 assists and 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the season, while
Rylee Szyszka had five assists, five digs and two aces.
San Francisco State hit .246 for the match while holding Stan State to .126. The Gators finished with a 40-36 advantage in kills and a 5-3 edge in blocks, while Stan State held a 49-46 advantage in digs.
First Set
The teams went back and forth early before San Francisco State used a run to create separation. Stan State continued to battle and pulled within striking distance late, but the Gators held off the Warriors for a 25-21 victory. Stan State recorded 13 kills in the opener, while San Francisco State finished with 14 kills and hit .268 to take the early match lead.
Second Set
San Francisco State carried the momentum into the second set and held Stan State to a .070 hitting percentage. The Warriors finished with 10 kills in the frame, but seven attack errors helped the Gators take the set 25-18 and build a 2-0 match advantage.
Third Set
Stan State came out strong in the third, using an early 11-1 run to build a 12-2 advantage. Meyer had four kills during the Warriors' fast start, while Szyszka recorded two service aces.
The Warriors still led 21-13 before San Francisco State mounted its comeback, scoring eight consecutive points to tie the set at 21-21. Stan State regained the lead at 22-21 before the Gators moved ahead 23-22.
Irene London answered with a kill to tie the set at 23, but San Francisco State scored the final two points to take the set 25-23 and complete the sweep.
WARRIOR NOTABLES
- Meyer led Stan State with 11 kills.
- Freeman finished with nine kills and hit .471.
- Hamilton had five kills without an error, hit .556 and recorded three total blocks.
- Gonzales finished with a match-high 15 digs and two service aces.
- Wilkerson recorded 16 assists and 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the season.
- Stan State finished with 49 digs to San Francisco State's 46.
- The Warriors led the third set 12-2 and later 21-13 before San Francisco State rallied for the 25-23 victory.
- Thursday marked the Warriors' first home match of the 2026 season.
- Thursday's home opener was Alopecia Awareness Night, with Stan State volleyball recognizing and supporting those affected by alopecia, including Warriors Ireland Avalos and Soraya Forbes.
- The match was part of the CCAA Pod Weekend and did not count toward the conference standings.
Up Next
The CCAA Pod Weekend continues Friday, Sept. 25, when Cal State East Bay faces San Francisco State at 5 p.m. at Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena.  Stan State returns to the court Saturday, Sept. 26, when the Warriors host Cal State East Bay at 3 p.m. on Camper Reunion Day. Saturday's match also will not count toward the CCAA standings.
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