SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team dropped two matches on the final day of the Cal State San Bernardino Coyote Classic. The Cougars (3-5) fell 3-0 (12-25, 21-25, 22-25) to Western New Mexico before dropping a four-set decision to Concordia (Calif.).
 
Senior Jordan Banich registered a team-best 25 kills on top of her 14 digs. Freshman Lauren Lee garnered 18 kills and 19 digs.
 
"We were tested and pushed this weekend," said head coach Andrea Leonard. "Things were exposed and the positive is we have the chance to change them before we open conference action this next week."
 
The Cougars begin California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play this upcoming week with three home matches.  On Wednesday, CSUSM faces Humboldt State at 5 p.m. followed by a match-up against UC San Diego on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Cougars round out the week with a match against No. 16 Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
Match 1: Western New Mexico 3 – CSUSM 0
The Cougars struggled in the opening set against the Mustangs, falling 25-12 after recording 19 hitting errors and six service errors.
 
The second set proved to be a different story as the Cougars jumped out to a 6-1 lead. WNMU gradually got back into the set and eventually evened the score at 11-11. Both teams traded the lead until the 20-20 mark when the Mustangs put together a three-point run to pull away and eventually take a 2-0 advantage in the match with a 25-21 set win.
 
Back-to-back kills by Banich evened the game at 17-17. Neither team took more than a one-point lead until the 22 mark when WNMU rattled off three consecutive points to clinch the match victory.
 
Match 2: Concordia (Calif.) 3 – CSUSM 1
Freshman Cheyanne Patin tallied career-best five blocks and four aces in the match. Senior Lauren Hayes collected her third double-double of the tournament with 26 assists and 15 digs. 

In the first set, CSUSM trailed early but eventually knotted the score at 12-12 on a kill by senior Taylor DeGraaf. The two squads took turns taking the lead until the 19 mark when CSUSM took control and got a pair of kills from Lee on the way to a 25-22 victory.
 
The Eagles retaliated with a strong 25-18 victory to even the match at one set apiece. The third set was an all out battle, with 10 ties and two lead changes. The Cougars saw their 18-12 lead dwindle away as CUI fought back and ultimately take a 2-1 set lead after a 25-22 win.  
 
At 7-7 in the fourth set, the Eagles distanced themselves with a four-point run and never looked back to clinch the set and match with a 25-15 victory.