FRESNO, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team played a hard-fought three sets before dropping its opening match of 2021 at Fresno Pacific by scores of 27-25, 25-23 and 27-25.
 
FPU 3 – CSUSM 0 (27-25, 25-23, 27-25)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Stephanie Adams – 11 kills | 1 ace
Emily Vander Weide – 10 kills | 6 digs
Kassy Doering – 9 kills | 5 blocks
Grecia Cordero-Barr – 19 digs | 2 aces
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Down 18-13, the Cougars came roaring back to cut FPU's lead to 18-17 in the opening set.
• The Cougars took a 22-21 lead on a Kiora Ridgeway roll shot to the middle of the court, but back-to-back service aces by FPU's Catie Speas clinched the Sunbird win at 27-25.
• CSUSM snagged an 8-7 lead in the second frame on a block by Stephanie Adams and Kassy Doering.
• A Vander Weide kill extended CSUSM's lead to 18-13.
• The Sunbirds put together a 7-2 run to even the second set at 21-all before clinching the set with three unanswered points at 25-23.
• CSUSM put together their own run of five consecutive points capped by a Doering kill in the third set to take a 10-5 lead.
• The Sunbirds answered with their own run of six to take the lead at 13-12.
• After a few lead changes, CSUSM broke away with a 22-18 lead before FPU charged back to take the set and match with a 27-25 win.

 
QUICK HITS

• The Cougars fall to 0-1 on the year while the Sunbirds move up to 2-0.
• CSUSM notched 49 kills in the match while holding the Sunbirds to 39.
• The Cougars were outblocked 10-5 with FPU recording six in the opening set.
• Despite the loss, CSUSM still holds the all-time lead in wins with a 3-1 record over FPU.

 
 
UP NEXT
The Cougars continue their trek north to San Rafael to take on Dominican tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.