SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team picked up two victories over New Mexico Highlands (1-2) and Westminster (Utah)(2-4) on the first day of the Cal State San Bernardino Coyote Classic. The Cougars improve their season record to 3-3.
 
The Cougars opened the tournament with a four-set victory (25-22, 25-17, 28-30, 25-20) over NMHU before having to go the distance in a five-set thriller against Westminster (24-26, 25-13, 25-17, 23-25, 16-14).
 
Senior Jordan Banich led the Cougars with 33 kills and freshman Lauren Lee added 31 for the day. As a team, CSUSM tallied .211 clip while holding opponents to a .165 attack percentage.
 
The Cougars conclude the Coyote Classic on Saturday, Sept. 12 with matches against Western New Mexico (10 a.m.) and Concordia (Calif.) (5 p.m.).
 
Match 1: CSUSM 3, N.M. Highlands 1
Junior Brooke Butler and Lee tallied 20 kills apiece to lead the Cougars to a four-set victory over New Mexico Highlands in CSUSM's first match on Friday. 
 
Three Cougars put together double-double performances as Lee added 10 digs to her kill stat. Senior Lauren Hays recorded 43 assists and 10 digs while Banich rattled off 11 kills and 10 digs in the three sets she played. Sophomore Samantha Flores collected 24 digs, a career high for a four-set match. 
 
The Cougars held a slight lead throughout the first set and a seven-point uncontested run gave CSUSM a 24-18 cushion. It took CSUSM four set points, but the blocking duo of Morgan Willis and Lee sealed the deal for the Cougars in the first set.
 
After six occasions of a tied score, the Cougars charged forward by reeling off four straight points to take a 17-12 lead. CSUSM cruised to a 25-17 second set victory with Lee rattling off six kills and Flores tallying four aces.
 
The third set was a nail-biter, consisting of nine ties and six lead changes.  After both teams had three set point opportunities, NMHU came out on top at 30-28 to force a fourth set.
 
Behind a .326 clip, the Cougars offense exploded in set four with 18 kills and only four hitting errors. Lee put together a five kill on eight attempts with no errors performance (.625).  CSUSM controlled the set till the end to earn the 25-20 set win and ultimately the match victory.
 
Match 2: CSUSM 3, Westminster (Utah) 2
Banich tied her match-high while wearing Cougar Blue with 22 kills in the five set victory over Westminster. Freshman Cheyanne Patin collected a season-high seven blocks (6 BA, 1 BS). 
 
The first set contained 15 ties that resulted in the Griffins coming out on top at 26-24.  The Cougars rebounded quickly in set two, hitting a season-best .423 to claim a 25-13 victory. 
 
In the third set, CSUSM went up 12-6 on a block by Banich and freshman Faith Fortune. The Cougars took a 2-1 lead in the match after recording a 25-17 third set victory. 
 
Despite taking a 3-1 lead in the fourth set, a four-point run put the Griffins on top and CSUSM was playing catch up the rest of the set. The Cougars compiled a five-point rally after Westminster reached set point, but a kill by Jessica Chellsen forced a fifth set.
 
Neither team led by more than two points in the fifth set which featured two lead changes and seven ties. Patin put down the match's winning kill with a shot to the deep right corner.