SAN MARCOS, Calif.— The No. 20 Cal State San Marcos volleyball team will get a chance to showcase their skills against several out of state opponents this week at the Biola/Red Lion Hotel Anaheim Summer Slam held in La Mirada.

The Cougars have done well in this tournament in the past, going 4-0 in both 2011 and 2012, while knocking off three opponents ranked in the NAIA top 15. This year, the Cougars will face several more talented opponents, including two teams— Davenport (26) and Southern Oregon (32)— that are just outside the top 25.

SCHEDULE

Match 3
Thursday, August 22 – 11:00 a.m.
Cal State San Marcos (2-0) vs Concordia (Ore.) (0-0)
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium
 
Match 4
Thursday, August 22 – 5:00 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (2-0) vs William Jessup (0-0)
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium

Match 5
Friday, August 23 – 9:00 a.m.
Cal State San Marcos (2-0) vs Southern Oregon (0-0)
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium

Match 6
Friday, August 23 – 3:00 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (2-0) vs Davenport (Mich.) (0-0)
La Mirada, Calif. – Chase Gymnasium
  
WALL UP FRONT

The Cougars have grown from a year ago— not just in age, but rather in terms of height. After having four players listed as standing six feet or tall in 2012, CSUSM now boasts eight athletes at or above the six foot mark.

One area this can particularly help the Cougars is in blocking at the net. One such six-footer, freshman Markisha Henderson-Diaz, made quite an impact in her first two games by recording five block assists in six sets of play. In all, the team recorded nine blocks total.
 
PLAYING THE FIELD
 
CSUSM has a previous history with three of the teams they will play this week. The Cougars are 1-0 against Concordia (Ore.), having defeated the Cavaliers in straight sets in 2011 behind Taylor DeGraaf's 19 kills, 10 digs, and .444 hitting percentage.

The Cougars have swept the William Jessup Warriors in three sets in all three of their previous meetings, rallying to take the final set 42-40 in one such encounter in 2012.

Cal State San Marcos knocked off Southern Oregon in four sets back in 2011 during the Biola Summer Slam, and Friday's matchup against Davenport will be the first meeting between the teams.

FIRST HOME GAMES
 
Cal State San Marcos will play the first of eight home matches for the raucous Cougar faithful on Monday, September 9 against Hope International. The following day, September 10, CSUSM will host local rival and reigning NAIA National Champion Concordia (Calif.). Both games will take place at 7:00 pm at Escondido High School.