DENVER, Colo. – The No. 22 Cal State San Marcos volleyball team exits the Association of Independent Institutions conference with a bang, winning its fourth consecutive tournament title with a sweep (25-16, 25-19, 25-22) over Ashford in the finals Saturday. The Cougars have posted a perfect 16-0 record since the CSUSM program began four years ago.
 
With the win, the Cougars have punched their ticket to the NAIA National Tournament with the automatic bid awarded to the conference tournament winner.  CSUSM's NAIA opening round opponent will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 16.  Check the www.CSUSMCougars.com website for more information.
 
"Such an amazing team effort tonight," said CSUSM head coach Andrea Leonard. "We came together for the most important match and were able to play to our full potential. Players were executing their skills in every position that made it difficult for opponents to stop us. 
 
"So incredibly happy and proud of this team, especially our seniors who have worked so hard."
 
Freshman outside hitter Cheyenne Richards had a standout performance, going 12-for-18 with three errors for a .500 attack percentage. Senior setter Alyssa Foster collected her 14th double-double with 40 assists and 11 digs.
 
CSUSM hit .278 for the match and held the Saints to .097 hitting.  That statistic showed the greatest variance in the match as the rest were similar in comparison.
 
The Cougars jumped out to a quick 9-3 lead in the first set and cruised to a 25-16 win. Both teams finished with 12 kills apiece but CSUSM limited its errors to one while Ashford committed eight attack errors.
 
CSUSM once again took the lead quickly but Ashford kept the game close for the first part of the second set. Back-to-back kills by junior outside hitter Jordan Banich extended CSUSM's lead to 14-11.  CSUSM's lead never fell below three points as they snagged a 25-19 win.  Richards and sophomore Brooke Butler each tallied five kills in the set.
 
In the third set, CSUSM took a 10-6 lead on an Ashford hitting error.  The Saints responded with a 5-0 run to take their first lead of the match.  A Richard's kill evened the set and Ashford's Michaela Gardner put the Saints back on top once again at 12-11.  CSUSM knotted it once again thanks to another kill by Richards and that would be the last time the Cougars would trail in the match.  The ninth tie of the set made the score 22-22 and CSUSM capitalized on two consecutive Ashford hitting errors for their first and only match point. The blocking duo of Foster and freshman Kristin Parker gave CSUSM the victory at 25-22.  

Senior Alyssa Foster was named A.I.I. Tournament Most Outstanding Player for the second straight year.  At the tournament's banquet on Thursday, Foster was awarded Player of the Year and collected her third consecutive Setter of the Year honor. Joining Foster on the A.I.I. All-Tournament Team were Alyssa Hubbard, Samantha Flores and Kristin Parker.
  
Most Outstanding Player – Alyssa Foster, Cal State San Marcos
 
All-Tournament Team
Megan Casagrande, Ashford University
Maria Darling, Walla Walla University
Victoria Day, Ashford University
Alexis Emanuel, Fisk University
Samantha Flores, Cal State San Marcos
Alyssa Foster, Cal State San Marcos
Veronica Gibbs, Johnson & Wales University
Alyssa Hubbard, Cal State San Marcos
Danica Lawrence, Johnson & Wales University
Kristin Parker, Cal State San Marcos
Chelsea Potter, Rochester College
Paige TenBrink, Rochester College
Danielle Tombolato, Ashford University