MERCED, Calif. – Behind a 10 team block and six ace performance, the Cal State San Marcos volleyball team completed a double sweep on the first day of the UC Merced Holiday Inn Express Invitational.
 
With victories over Warner Pacific and San Diego Christian, CSUSM improves to 6-3 on the year.
 
Match 1: CSUSM 3, WPU 0
The Cougars began the day with their second victory of the season against Warner Pacific with scores of 25-18, 25-13 and 25-18.  CSUSM hit an impressive .371 with 16 kills on 35 attempts and only three errors in the third set. As a team, the Cougars served up seven aces with freshmen Ashley Kaylor and Samantha Flores each tallying a pair.
 
Senior setter Alyssa Foster spread out the offense with five Cougars recording five or more kills.  Senior Alyssa Hubbard and junior Jordan Banich each recorded a team-best nine kills. 
 
Head coach Andrea Leonard's thoughts after Warner Pacific win -
"I am most impressed with our team's ability to focus all week in practice and apply the fundamentals we have been working on to today's match. There are vital things that do not show up in the stat column that our players committed themselves to and it paid off today."
 
Match 2: CSUSM 3, SDCC 0
In the late match against San Diego Christian, CSUSM once again took care of business quickly with scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-15.  The Cougars collected a season-best 10 team blocks.  Hubbard added a solo block to her four block assists to lead the squad.
 
Three Cougars reached double-digits in digs as Banich nabbed her fifth double-double of the season with 14 kills and 10 digs.  Kaylor and Foster finished with 13 and 11 digs, respectively.
 
Head coach Andrea Leonard's thoughts after San Diego Christian win -
"We were able to again, apply what we have been working on in practice. Our blocking was especially evident in this match with us getting 10 team blocks. Our serving also continues to get more and more aggressive. Coming together with a focus on building, this team is exciting to coach because they are so determined."
 
CSUSM reports back to the court at 9 a.m. on Saturday for another showdown against Southern Oregon. The Cougars dropped a four-set match to the Raider in the opening match of the Biola Summer Slam on Aug. 21.