Saturday, September 5
Nacogdoches, TX
12:00 PM
Stephen F. Austin
2-3,0-0Southland
2
vs
3
University of California
4-1,0-0ACC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 25 | 22 | 12 | 25 | 15 | 3 |
| SFA | 18 | 25 | 25 | 16 | 11 | 2 |
Photo by: Elisabeth Thornquist
RECAP: SFA Drops Heartbreaker to Cal in Five-Set Battle
9/5/2026 3:50:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
NACOGDOCHES, Texas- Stephen F. Austin lost to California 3-2 on Saturday. The Ladyjacks took the second and third sets before the Bears won the fourth and fifth, with set scores of 18-25, 25-22, 25-12, 16-25, 11-15.
After Katherine Holtman and Madi Zorn connected for the first point, Cal moved ahead 4-1 and later stretched the margin to 7-2. SFA cut it to 10-7 on a Caroline Kahle kill and Kyanna Creecy service ace, but the Bears answered and kept SFA from pulling closer than five through the middle of the set. Avery Koonsen had three kills during SFA's middle-set scoring, and Kahle added kills at 14-9 and 23-15 to keep SFA moving late. Cal reached set point at 24-16, and after kills by Holtman and Zorn, the Bears closed the opening set, 25-18.
After Cal tied the second set at 1-1, SFA scored the next six points, with Kahle at the service line for the final five as Holtman had two kills and combined with Jordan Henderson on a block in a 7-1 start. The Bears chipped into the gap after SFA held a 16-10 lead, scoring five straight points to get within one, 16-15. A Koonsen kill tied the set at 19-19, and SFA went back up 21-19 on a Molly Cravens kill and Koonsen service ace before Cal drew even at 21-21. After the teams traded points to 22-22, Kahle put SFA back ahead with a kill, then an attack error brought set point, before Holtman finished the 25-22 set win off a Zorn assist.
After the Bears pulled even at 5-5, SFA moved back in front on Koonsen's kill and service ace, then stretched the advantage to 12-6 with Creecy at the service line as she added a kill and Cravens and Henderson combined on a block. Cal continued to trade sideouts to stay within 16-11, but SFA answered with seven straight points. Creecy's kill started the run, Koonsen served SFA from 18-11 to 23-11 with two aces, and Cravens added a kill before Kahle's kill set up set point and Creecy's ace closed the set, 25-12. Creecy's two service aces marked the first time in her career she has recorded multiple aces in a match.
Zorn's setter dump from Erin Goodson gave SFA the first point of the fourth set, but the Bears answered with four straight points to move ahead 4-1. SFA worked back to a 5-5 tie on kills by Kahle, Holtman, and Koonsen, before Cal took the next four points. Brinkley Reeves served an ace as SFA got within 13-9, and Henderson added a kill and a block as SFA moved to 15-11. The Bears answered with five straight points, then finished the set for a 25-16 result.
SFA traded points with Cal early in the fifth set, with Holtman tying it at 2-2 off a Zorn assist. The Bears moved ahead 7-3, but Koonsen answered with a kill and a service ace before Kahle's kill and an attack error brought SFA within one, 8-7. The teams continued to trade points until the Bears created separation at 14-10. Holtman kept SFA in it with a kill, but the Bears answered on the next rally to take the match, 15-11.
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH
Avery Koonsen- 14 kills (tied team lead), 5 service aces (new career high), 13 digs (third straight double-double and tied team lead)
Katherine Holtman- 14 kills (tied team lead)
Madi Zorn- 26 assists (led team), 9 digs
Caroline Kahle- 8 kills, 13 digs (tied team lead), 5 assists
Kyanna Creecy- 7 kills on .357 hitting, 2 service aces (new career high)
Erin Goodson- 13 digs (tied team lead)
SFA Tournament 1 All-Tournament Team:
Cal
Sawyer Thomsen (MVP),
Sophia Johnson,
Abby Zimmerman
Loyola
Sam Falk,
Mallory Bohl
SFA
Caroline Kahle
Kyanna Creecy
NEXT UP
The Ladyjacks will head to Huntsville, Texas, to face Sam Houston in the Battle of the Piney Woods on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m.
FOLLOW THE LADYJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA Volleyball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Ladyjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook
After Katherine Holtman and Madi Zorn connected for the first point, Cal moved ahead 4-1 and later stretched the margin to 7-2. SFA cut it to 10-7 on a Caroline Kahle kill and Kyanna Creecy service ace, but the Bears answered and kept SFA from pulling closer than five through the middle of the set. Avery Koonsen had three kills during SFA's middle-set scoring, and Kahle added kills at 14-9 and 23-15 to keep SFA moving late. Cal reached set point at 24-16, and after kills by Holtman and Zorn, the Bears closed the opening set, 25-18.
After Cal tied the second set at 1-1, SFA scored the next six points, with Kahle at the service line for the final five as Holtman had two kills and combined with Jordan Henderson on a block in a 7-1 start. The Bears chipped into the gap after SFA held a 16-10 lead, scoring five straight points to get within one, 16-15. A Koonsen kill tied the set at 19-19, and SFA went back up 21-19 on a Molly Cravens kill and Koonsen service ace before Cal drew even at 21-21. After the teams traded points to 22-22, Kahle put SFA back ahead with a kill, then an attack error brought set point, before Holtman finished the 25-22 set win off a Zorn assist.
After the Bears pulled even at 5-5, SFA moved back in front on Koonsen's kill and service ace, then stretched the advantage to 12-6 with Creecy at the service line as she added a kill and Cravens and Henderson combined on a block. Cal continued to trade sideouts to stay within 16-11, but SFA answered with seven straight points. Creecy's kill started the run, Koonsen served SFA from 18-11 to 23-11 with two aces, and Cravens added a kill before Kahle's kill set up set point and Creecy's ace closed the set, 25-12. Creecy's two service aces marked the first time in her career she has recorded multiple aces in a match.
Zorn's setter dump from Erin Goodson gave SFA the first point of the fourth set, but the Bears answered with four straight points to move ahead 4-1. SFA worked back to a 5-5 tie on kills by Kahle, Holtman, and Koonsen, before Cal took the next four points. Brinkley Reeves served an ace as SFA got within 13-9, and Henderson added a kill and a block as SFA moved to 15-11. The Bears answered with five straight points, then finished the set for a 25-16 result.
SFA traded points with Cal early in the fifth set, with Holtman tying it at 2-2 off a Zorn assist. The Bears moved ahead 7-3, but Koonsen answered with a kill and a service ace before Kahle's kill and an attack error brought SFA within one, 8-7. The teams continued to trade points until the Bears created separation at 14-10. Holtman kept SFA in it with a kill, but the Bears answered on the next rally to take the match, 15-11.
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH
Avery Koonsen- 14 kills (tied team lead), 5 service aces (new career high), 13 digs (third straight double-double and tied team lead)
Katherine Holtman- 14 kills (tied team lead)
Madi Zorn- 26 assists (led team), 9 digs
Caroline Kahle- 8 kills, 13 digs (tied team lead), 5 assists
Kyanna Creecy- 7 kills on .357 hitting, 2 service aces (new career high)
Erin Goodson- 13 digs (tied team lead)
SFA Tournament 1 All-Tournament Team:
Cal
Sawyer Thomsen (MVP),
Sophia Johnson,
Abby Zimmerman
Loyola
Sam Falk,
Mallory Bohl
SFA
Caroline Kahle
Kyanna Creecy
NEXT UP
The Ladyjacks will head to Huntsville, Texas, to face Sam Houston in the Battle of the Piney Woods on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m.
FOLLOW THE LADYJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA Volleyball, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Ladyjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook
Players Mentioned
MB/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
Pin
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
Cal
SFA
Kills
59
56
Errors
17
28
Attempts
151
161
Hitting %
.278
.174
Points
77.0
68.0
Assists
56
50
Aces
6
9
Blocks
12
3
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
14
Aces
5
Blocks
0
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
0
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