SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 23 Cal State San Marcos women's volleyball team will hit the road this week for a match Tuesday at The Master's College before capping off the week with four matches in the Biola University Summer Slam on Thursday and Friday. All games will be broadcast live for CSUSM fans to follow.

SCHEDULE
Match 5
Tuesday, August 21 – 6:30 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (3-1) at The Master's College  (0-0)
Santa Clarita, Calif. – The Master's Gym
Live Video and Stats

Biola University/ Red Lion Hotel-Anaheim Summer Slam
Matches 6 & 7
Thursday, August 23 – 10:30 a.m.
Cal State San Marcos (3-1) vs. Concordia (Ore.) (0-0)
Thursday, August 23 – 4:30 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (3-1) vs. William Jessup (0-4)
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium
Tournament Page and Live Video/Stats

Biola University/ Red Lion Hotel-Anaheim Summer Slam
Matches 8 & 9
Friday, August 24 – 12:30 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (3-1) vs. No. 8 Lewis-Clark State (3-1)
Friday, August 24 – 6:30 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (3-1) vs. College of Idaho (2-1)
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium
Tournament Page and Live Video/Stats

MAY RETURNS
Cal State San Marcos will get a huge lift this week with the 2012 debut of libero Nichole May. As last year's team MVP, May will provide the Cougars with on-the-floor leadership in addition to an excellent defender and server. May was 6th in all the NAIA with 74 service aces in 2011, and received recognition as an A.I.I. All-Conference Honorable Mention and All-Tournament team member. She has also finished the year with 575 digs, the third highest in the conference.

TOP 25 BATTLE
The No. 23 Cougars will face their first ranked opponent of the season on Friday in No. 8 Lewis-Clark State. CSUSM went 4-6 (.400) against NAIA Top-25 opponents in 2011, including a five set victory over then No.7 Lewis-Clark State in August of last year. That win was the second highest ranked opponent that the Cougars have ever defeated, just behind the victory over No.1 Fresno Pacific.  

BALANCED ATTACK
CSUSM has kept opponents guessing all season as to who will be spiking the ball on offense. The Cougars currently boast six players averaging at least one kill per set, led by senior outside hitter Lindsey Sappington with 3.64. With many talented offensive weapons, it is difficult for the opposition to plan against the Cougars, who could be led by a number of performers on any given day.  
QUICK STARTERS              
The Cougars have been red-hot at the start of matches this season, going 4-0 in the first set and outscoring their opponents 100-71— or an average of 25-to-17.8. CSUSM also fared well in the first set last year, winning the first set in 30 of 37 matches.    

PLAYING THE FIELD
CSUSM is 3-1 lifetime against the teams they will compete against this week. The Cougars went 1-1 last year against The Master's College, losing in four sets in their first meeting, but rallying from two sets down to win in five in the second meeting. San Marcos beat William Jessup in three sets in 2011, holding the Warriors to a -0.061 hitting percentage.

The key matchup for Cal State San Marcos this week will be against No. 8 Lewis-Clark State, who the Cougars beat 25-19, 23-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-9 in the Biola Summer Slam last season. CSUSM has never faced Concordia (Ore.) or College of Idaho.
 
FIRST HOME GAME
Cal State San Marcos will play the first of eight home matches this season in front of the Cougar faithful Tuesday, September 11 against reigning national runner-up Concordia University (Calif.). The Cougars will look to avenge two previous losses to the Eagles from last season. NAIA All-American Honorable Mention Taylor DeGraaf loved facing Concordia last season, notching game-high kill totals in both contests while combining for 35 kills and .347 hitting percentage.