SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team faces three California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) teams on the road this week, beginning with a stop at Sonoma State.
 
The Schedule 
Match 15
Tuesday, Sept. 29 – 4 p.m. 
Cal State San Marcos (4-10, 1-5 CCAA) at Sonoma State (7-3, 3-1 CCAA)
Rohnert Park, Calif. – The Wolves' Den
Live Stats | Live Video

Match 16
Friday, Oct. 2 – 7 p.m. 
Cal State San Marcos (4-10, 1-5 CCAA) at Cal Poly Pomona (8-5, 4-1 CCAA)
Pomona, Calif. – Kellogg Arena
Live Stats | Live Video

Match 17
Saturday, Oct. 3 – 7 p.m. 
Cal State San Marcos (4-10, 1-5 CCAA) at Cal State Monterey Bay (3-7, 2-3 CCAA)
Seaside, Calif. – The Otter Sports Center
Live Stats | Live Video 
 
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Sonoma State Preview
All-time vs. SSU: First meeting.
 
SSU Breakdown: The defending NCAA West Region and CCAA champion Seawolves fell in five sets at Cal State Monterey Bay to begin their 2015 conference campaign. Sonoma State has since recovered, sweeping three consecutive CCAA opponents (Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State and Stanislaus State). Senior Caylie Seitz is averaging a conference-best 4.32 kills per set.
 
Cal Poly Pomona Preview
All-time vs. CPP: 0-1
 
Last Meeting: L, 1-3 (19-25, 25-22, 19-25, 17-25) on Sept. 7, 2012. CSUSM, facing NCAA Division II competition for the first time in program history, competed in the Cal Poly Pomona Tournament in 2012. The Cougars dropped a four-set decision to the Broncos.
 
CPP Breakdown: The Broncos have recorded success so far against conference opponents this season with wins over Cal State Dominguez Hills, Humboldt State, Cal State L.A. and Cal State Monterey Bay. Their lone conference loss was a three-setter to then-No. 21 Sonoma State. CPP is in a three-way tie at the top of the CCAA standings with Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego with a 4-1 CCAA record. Sophomore Deanna Blaine is the Broncos top player with 180 points (151 kills+ 162 digs+ 21 blocks).
 
Cal State Monterey Bay Preview
All-time vs. CSUMB: First meeting.
 
CSUMB Breakdown: Under new head coach Maureen "Moe" Melhart, the Otters have had a bit of a see-saw conference season thus far. CSUSM fell to Stanislaus State and Cal State L.A. in its first two conference matches before pulling off a big upset over visiting Sonoma State in a five-set thriller on Sept. 17.  The Otters recorded a sweep over Humboldt State two nights latter before dropping two consecutive decisions to Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal Poly Pomona on the road the next week. Senior libero Rachel Cookus is dominating the CCAA, averaging 5.51 digs per set. 
 
Last Weekend Recap
After falling to San Francisco State in five-sets on Friday, the Cougars posted a come-from-behind victory with a five-set thriller (24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-9) in Hunter Gym to defeat Cal State East Bay for their first conference win. Junior Brooke Butler tallied a match-high 21 kills and eight blocks (two solo) in the win. Seniors Taylor DeGraaf and Jordan Banich added 12 and 11 kills, respectively.
 
Sometimes 25 Points Isn't Enough
The Cougars have had to go to "extra points" in sets on six occasions this season. This is not something new in their young program. CSUSM has had 54 sets go past the 25-point mark in its five years. On a positive note, the Cougars are 33-21 in those sets. The highest set was a 42-40 victory over William Jessup on Aug. 23, 2012 that resulted in a sweep over the Warriors.
 
The Andrea Leonard File
CSUSM head coach Andrea Leonard enters her fifth season in charge of the Cougar volleyball team, a program she has built from the ground up since arriving on campus in 2010. Entering this season, she has accumulated an 112-46 (.709) record at CSUSM that includes four Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference Tournament Championships and four trips to the NAIA National Championships.
 
New Territory
After nine seasons of competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cougars enter their first season of NCAA Division II competition in 2015. CSUSM is currently in the second year of a three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership. As a part of the transition, the Cougars will be ineligible for postseason play in 2015 and 2016.
 
New Conference
Cal State San Marcos is a part of the 13-team California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), made up of 12 CSU institutions and UC San Diego. The CCAA is one of the premier NCAA Division II leagues in the nation. Its teams have won more national championships (153) than any other conference.