CALDWELL, Idaho – The No. 22 Cal State San Marcos volleyball team went the distance with No. 24 College of Idaho, but saw its season come to an end Saturday in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Cougars fell in five sets to the Yotes, 25-18, 23-25, 14-25, 25-21 and 11-15.
 
"We battled hard and had a great match to end the season against a very worthy opponent," said head coach Andrea Leonard. "Our team played with passion, discipline and all put intensity. We had an amazing season and very happy with our body of work once again!"
 
Senior Alyssa Hubbard led the Cougars with 19 kills while freshman Cheyenne Richards added 13 kills. Senior Alyssa Foster dished out 56 assists and was one shy of a double-double with nine digs. Freshman Samantha Flores recorded 17 digs and three aces.
 
CSUSM came out of the gate strong, taking the first set 25-18 behind a .364 attack percentage.
 
The second set was a battle consisting of 17 ties and nine lead changes, but C of I eventually came out on top at 25-23 to even the match at one game apiece.
 
The Cougars struggled in the third set, finding themselves down early and just couldn't get back into the set.
 
With it all on the line in the fourth set, CSUSM broke a 19-19 tie on a Richards kill to go on a 6-2 run and force a fifth set.
 
The final set was the closest in the five frames for the first 10 points.  A 5-1 run by the Yotes clinched the win and punched their ticket to Sioux City, Iowa for the NAIA National Championship.
 
"I am extremely proud of this team, what a great group of seniors to set the foundation of this program for many years to come," Leonard said.  
 
CSUSM volleyball's first four-year graduating class of Alyssa Foster, Kelli McLin, and Erin Talafus wrap up their careers with four Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) tournament championships and four trips to the NAIA National Championship.  Alyssa Hubbard finishes her two-year career playing a major role in those two accomplishments.
 
The Cougars wrapped up their 2014 campaign with a 27-11 record that included a 10-match win streak and two victories over nationally ranked opponents.