IRVINE, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team dropped a pair of matches in the D2 West Region Showcase on Friday at Concordia Irvine. The Cougars fell in five sets to Alaska Anchorage, who is receiving votes in the latest AVCA National Coaches Poll, before dropping a four-setter to Central Washington in the nightcap.
MATCH 1: ALASKA ANCHORAGE 3 – CSUSM 2 (21-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-8)
TOP PERFORMERS
Kassy Doering – 11 kills | 5 blocks
Faith Fortuné – 8 kills |7 blocks
Aleese Wheaton – 24 assists | 16 digs
Grecia Cordero-Barr – 23 digs | 2 aces
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Turning point in the first set occurred at 13-13 when the Cougars tallied three uncontested points thanks to a Doering kill and two UAA errors. CSUSM stayed on top until the end when Maddy Newcombe registered an ace to clinch the opening frame.
- CSUSM started off red-hot in the second set, taking a 15-2 lead after recording four hits, three blocks and three aces. The Seawolves charged back to cut CSUSM's lead to two points before a block by Fortune and Olivia Aguilar gave the Cougars a 2-0 advantage in the match.
- The Cougars played catch up throughout the third set, trailing by as many as nine points before UAA took its first set of the match.
- Before they could blink, the Cougars found themselves down 10-1 to the Seawolves in the fourth set. CSUSM went on a 12-2 run to take a two point lead. Eight unanswered points handed UAA back the lead at 22-19 and eventually evened the match at two sets apiece to force a fifth set.
- The Seawolves opened the fifth with another run at 10-4 to put distance between them and the Cougars, eventually securing the match victory.
MATCH 2: CENTRAL WASHINGTON 3 – CSUSM 1 (25-20, 25-16, 25-27, 25-18)
TOP PERFORMERS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSUSM jumped out first with a 5-2 lead before CWU charged back to take over at 14-9 and cruised to an opening set victory.
- The Wildcats dominated the second set behind a .378 hitting percentage.
- In the third set, CSUSM posted a come-from-behind victory to force a fourth set. The Cougars trailed 17-14 before taking its first lead of the frame at 22-21 on a Lauren Lee kill. Back-to-back hitting errors by the Wildcats gave CSUSM set point which Micah Hébert crushed for a kill.
- Turning point in the fourth set came at 17-15 when four consecutive Wildcat kills put them up 21-15.
QUICK HITS
- This marked CSUSM's first meeting in program history against UAA and CWU.
- Aleese Wheaton tallied double-doubles in both matches today.
- The Cougars outhit CWU, .208 to .133, in the third set.
UP NEXT
The Cougars play two matches on the final day of the D2 West Region Showcase tomorrow, facing Notre Dame de Namur at 10:45 a.m. before facing host Concordia Irvine in the finale at 7:45 p.m.
