COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team split a pair of matches Friday, picking up a sweep (25-14, 25-15, 25-18) over Maysville State (N.D) before dropping a five-set heartbreaker (25-21, 27-25, 17-25, 18-25, 8-15) to host No. 22 Vanguard.
 
The Cougars begin a two-game home stand on Monday before returning to the road once again.  CSUSM faces Westmont on Monday followed by a match-up against Pacific Union on Wednesday. Both matches begin at 5 p.m.
 
MATCH 1 – CSUSM 3, Mayville State 0
 
"We executed well, stayed composed and played confident," said head coach Andrea Leonard. "We feel good about our ability to perform at a high level."
 
The Cougars completed their sixth sweep in eight matches with a 3-0 victory over Mayville State (N.D.) in their morning match Friday.
 
CSUSM continued its serving dominance, hitting double-digits for the third consecutive match. Six of the Cougars'10 aces came in the first set.
 
Senior setter Alyssa Foster was once again able to spread out the offense with six Cougars collecting four kills or more.  Senior Alyssa Hubbard and freshman Cheyenne Richards tallied nine kills apiece.
 
MATCH 2: Vanguard 3, CSUSM 2
 
"Proud of our first two sets and the way we played," Leonard said. "We have much to work on from sets 3, 4 and 5."
 
Senior Alyssa Hubbard led the Cougars with 18 kills and a .350 attack percentage.  Sophomore Markisha Henderson-Diaz and junior Jordan Banich each reached double-digits with 12 and 11 kills, respectively.
 
CSUSM came out strong in the first set, hitting .303 on 14 kills in 33 attempts and only four errors to take the set at 25-21.
 
The second set consisted of nine ties and six lead changes as the Cougars went the extra mile to win 27-25. 
 
The Lions raised their hitting percentage to above .300 in the final three sets to take the match.
 
"We feel confident in what we can take away from this match," Leonard said. "We can apply it to future matches that we are in similar situations."