SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team will began its 2023 season by sharing hosting duties with Point Loma in the PLNU/CSUSM Seaside Invitational this weekend. On Friday, the Cougars host Biola at 1:30 p.m. and Lewis at 5 p.m. before venturing down to Point Loma on Saturday to take on Seattle Pacific at 2 p.m. and Point Loma at 7 p.m.
LOOK INSIDE THE COUGARS
- The Cougars return five starters from the 2022 season - Trinity Barr (OH), Sofia Hedqvist (OH), Jessica Thomas (OH), Mia Christensen (DS/L) and Jackie Phillips (DS/L)
- Seven will be donning Cougar Blue for the first time on Friday with four being true freshmen and three junior college transfers.
- The Cougars finished their 2022 campaign with an 8-17 overall record and were 7-11 in CCAA play – eighth in the CCAA standings.
- As a team in the CCAA statistics, CSUSM concluded 2022 ranked seventh in blocks per set (1.87).
- In the 2023 CCAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll, the Cougars were picked to finish ninth.
2023 PLNU/CSUSM SEASIDE INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
SEASON OPENER VS. BIOLA
- Biola holds a 5-1 lead in the all-time series against the Cougars.
- CSUSM's lone win over the Eagles occurred at the 2019 West Region Volleyball Showcase hosted by Cal State San Bernardino. The Cougars swept Biola in three sets by scores of 25-22, 28-26 and 25-17.
- The Cougars faced Biola last year in the Cougar Classic finale, falling 25-19, 25-18 and 25-16.
- The Eagles finished the 2022 regular season tied for fourth in the PacWest Conference standings with a 14-6 conference record and 17-10 overall.
- MSUD is coming off its best season is school history with a 28-4 record, falling in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament to West Texas A&M.
- Abby Brewster, an All-PacWest Conference second-team selection last season, returns after leading the conference in assists per set (9.57) in 2022.
- Biola was picked sixth in the 2023 PacWest Conference Preseason Poll.
WEST VS. MIDWEST REMATCH
- Lewis is receiving votes in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Preseason Poll.
- This will be the second time Lewis will face CSUSM in The Sports Center.
- The two teams last met in 2018 when the then-No. 6 Flyers defeated the Cougars in three (25-21, 25-20, 25-23) in The Cougar Classic.
- Since 2018, Lewis has traveled to Florida twice and Hawai'i once for tournaments as well as competing in the Colorado Premier Challenge hosted by MSU Denver every year.
- Lewis won the 2022 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championship, defeating Rockhurst in four sets (21-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-16).
- The Flyers entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed of the Midwest Regional but was handed a five-set upset (16-25, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 18-20) by Hillsdale College
- Lewis returns middle blocker Bella Ray who finished second in Division II in blocks per set (1.3) and total blocks (155).
- Lewis was picked to finish second in the 2023 GLVC Preseason Poll.
| MATCH 3 | (RV) SEATTLE PACIFIC |
| Date |
Saturday, September 2, 2023 |
| Time |
2 p.m. |
| Location |
San Marcos, Calif. |
| Venue |
The Sports Center |
| Records |
CSUSM (0-0)
SPU (0-0) |
| Live Stats |
SideArm Stats |
| Live Video |
Stretch Internet |
| Tickets |
University Tickets |
FIRST OF TWO MATCHES AGAINST SPU
- Saturday's match will be the second meeting between Seattle Pacific and CSUSM.
- The Cougars dropped a four-set match (25-16, 16-25, 14-25, 19-25) to the Falcons in their inaugural NCAA Division II season in 2017.
- Returning for the Falcons in 2023 are five starters (plus their libero) that includes All-GNAC first-teamer Hannah Hair.
- SPU concluded 2022 with an overall record of 13-13 and an 11-7 GNAC record, finishing tied for third with Central Washington.
- SPU was picked to finish third out of 10 teams in the 2023 GNAC Preseason Poll.
CO-HOST SHOWDOWN
- Saturday's match will be the 10th meeting between CSUSM and PLNU with the Sea Lions leading the all-time series at 7-2.
- CSUSM is 1-2 when playing at Point Loma with the Cougars being victorious back in 2016 with a five-set thriller (25-17, 23-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-11).
- In 2018, the Cougars recorded their second consecutive five-set victory (19-25, 25-15, 25-18, 18-25, 16-14) over the Sea Lions, but this time the match took place in The Sports Center.
- PLNU concluded its 2022 campaign with a 20-8 record and 15-5 in PacWest conference play.
- 2022 PacWest Freshman of the Year Agigail Nua returns for her sophomore campaign after finishing last season ranked fifth in the nation in points per set (5.14) and seventh in kills per set (4.51).
- PLNU was picked to finish second in the 2023 PacWest Preseason Poll.
THE LEONARD FILE
- Head coach Andrea Leonard enters her 13th season in charge of the Cougar volleyball team, a program she has built from the ground up since arriving on campus in 2010.
- Leonard has a 196-146 (.573) record as CSUSM's head coach.
- In 17 seasons as a collegiate head volleyball coach, Leonard holds a 288-272 (.514) career record.
- Leonard was CSUSM's first-ever CCAA Coach of the Year after guiding the Cougars to a third-place finish in the overall standings during the 2017 season.
