SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 23 Cal State San Marcos women's volleyball team is midway through their 18-game road trip to start the season, making their next stop in Las Vegas, Nev. for the University of Great Falls Tournament Saturday and Sunday. The Cougars (7-2), fresh off a victory over No. 8 Lewis-Clark State, will take on two more ranked opponents in the tournament as they look to make a jump in the next NAIA poll.

SCHEDULE

University of Great Falls Tournament
Matches 10 & 11
Saturday, September 1 – 10:00 a.m.
No. 23 Cal State San Marcos (7-2) vs No. 21 Carroll (6-3)
Saturday, September 1 – 2:00 p.m.
No. 23 Cal State San Marcos (7-2) vs Montana State-Northern (5-4)
Las Vegas, Nev.

Matches 12 & 13
Sunday, September 2 – 11:00 a.m.
No. 23 Cal State San Marcos (7-2) vs. No. 7 Rocky Mountain (2-6)
Sunday, September 2 – 1:00 p.m.
No. 23 Cal State San Marcos (7-2) vs University of Great Falls (6-3)
Las Vegas, Nev.

MORE DOUBLE-DOUBLES THAN IN-N-OUT
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor DeGraaf has recorded double-doubles in four straight matches and six of her last eight this season. She tallied 16 last year en route to earning NAIA All-American Honorable Mention honors. DeGraaf is capable of dominating a game both offensively and defensively, with career highs of 30 kills and 25 digs.

TOP 25 BATTLES
The No. 23 Cougars will face their second and third ranked opponents of the season in No. 21 Carroll and No. 7 Rocky Mountain. CSUSM went 4-6 (.400) against NAIA Top-25 opponents in 2011, and is 1-0 this year. CSUSM has certainly shown that they can compete with top level teams, having knocked off Top-10 opponents three times in the program's short history, including a victory over No.1 Fresno Pacific last year.  

SILENT KILLER
CSUSM's Brittany Thompson has been playing sneakily well once again in 2012. After leading the team in hitting percentage (.300) and blocks (45) as a freshman, Thompson has upped her game this year in both categories. Always an efficient player, she is hitting an outstanding .412 while averaging 1.65 kills per set. Furthermore, in just nine games this season, Thompson already has nearly half the amount of blocks (22) she had in all of 2011. To top off how well-rounded she is, Thompson is also tied for the team lead with .55 service aces per set.

QUICK STARTERS              
The Cougars have been red-hot at the start of matches this season, going 9-0 in the first set and outscoring their opponents 225-171— or an average of 25-to-19. CSUSM also fared well in the first set last year, winning the first set in 30 of 37 matches.    

PLAYING THE FIELD
The Cougars have not previously faced any of their four opponents this week.
 
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. Taylor DeGraaf loved facing Concordia last season, notching game-high kill totals in both contests while combining for 35 kills and .347 hitting percentage.