Box Score

MAYVILLE, N.D. – With four teams remaining in the 2012 State Farm Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Volleyball Conference Postseason single-elimination tournament Saturday afternoon at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse, the top-seed Cal State San Marcos eliminated No. 4 seed Ashford (Iowa) with a three straight sets sweep by the scores of 25-20, 25-18 and 25-14.  The Cougars secured a spot in the A.I.I. championship match tonight at 7:30 p.m. and earned one of the two automatic bids to the NAIA Volleyball National Tournament Opening Round to be played on Nov. 17.

Cal State San Marcos, No. 19 in the NAIA Volleyball national poll and the defending A.I.I. Volleyball Tournament champions, raised their overall record to 27-13.  Ashford, a newcomer to the A.I.I. this year, finished their successful 2012 season with an overall record of 23-18.

With the Cougars leading at 17-15, CSSM closed out the first set with a 25-20 victory with an 8-5 run.  Both teams struggled offensively as the Cougars hit .179 compared to the Saints' .043.

Cal State San Marcos raced to a 15-7 lead in the second set.  Ashford could not get any closer than six points at 24-18 as the Cougars extended their match lead to 2-0 with a 25-18 second set win. 

While the Cougars lead at 9-8 in the third set, CSSM scored seven straight points to widen their lead at 16-9.  Cal State San Marcos finished the match with a 9-5 run to earn their second straight trip to the A.I.I. Volleyball Championship match.

Taylor DeGraaf finished the match with a double-double of 15 kills and 12 digs for Cal State San Marcos.  Jaycee Arthur added nine kills.  Alyssa Foster recorded eight kills, 13 digs, three block assists and produced 29 set assists.  Erin Talafus had seven block assists.  Nichole May had 14 digs and recorded three service aces.  Brittany Esposito had 11 digs.

Morgan Martells and Danielle Tombolato each had nine kills for the Saints.  Liz Gbur had 15 assists.  Karrah Toby had a match-high 19 digs.  Sarah Garvick added 15 digs. 

Cal State San Marcos outhit Ashford 46-30 in kills, and the Cougars had a .272 killing efficiency compared to the Saints' .122. CSUSM recorded six service aces in the match, and had 69 digs to Ashford's 53 digs. 

The Cougars await the winner of No. 2 seed Jamestown (N.D.) and host-team No. 3 seed Mayville State (N.D.) in the A.I.I. Voleyball Conference Tournament's championship match tonight at 5:30 p.m PST. Live stats for the match can be found by clicking the "W" for webcast at game time here.