PORTLAND, Ore. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team hit an impressive .452 in the first set of 2014 season and went on to sweep host Warner Pacific 25-13, 27-25, 25-18 on Friday afternoon.
 
"I am really happy with our first competition," said head coach Andrea Leonard. "We came out focused on the areas of our game we have been working on and were able to apply our offensive and defensive strategies well."
 
"We also had players come off the bench and make impact plays right away."
 
Junior Jordan Banich registered a double-double with team-highs 13 kills and 10 digs.  Freshman Ashley Kaylor made her collegiate debut with 10 digs.  Senior Alyssa Hubbard and sophomore Markisha Henderson-Diaz each tallied eight kills in the match.  Senior Alyssa Foster dished out 38 assists while collecting eight digs.
 
The Cougars were errorless in the first set with 14 kills on 31 attempts. A 16-5 run gave the Cougars a 25-13 victory over the Knights.
 
Warner Pacific rallied back in the second set, halting three set points before CSUSM put away on a Banich kill to make it 27-25.   
 
A five-point run in the third set that included an ace by senior Kelli McLin put the Cougars up 19-11.  CSUSM went on to clinch the match at 25-18.
 
"Warner Pacific is a very good team," Leonard said. "The fact that we were able to maintain our composure is outstanding."

The Cougars are back in action on Saturday with two matches schedule in the McDonald & Wetle Concordia Challenge, facing Eastern Oregon at noon before a showdown against host Concordia (Ore.) at 7 p.m.