SAN MARCOS, Calif. – On opening day of 2023, the Cal State San Marcos volleyball team (0-2) dropped both of its matches on Friday at The Sports Center. The Cougars lost a five-set heartbreaker (25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 13-25, 11-15) to Biola before being swept by Lewis in the nightcap (17-25, 20-25, 13-25).
 
MATCH 1: CSUSM 2 – BIOLA 3 (25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 13-25, 11-15)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Sofia Hedqvist – 14 kills | 3 digs
Trinity Barr – 12 kills | 8 digs | 3 blocks
Isabelle Bakken – 10 kills | 3 blocks | 2 digs
Tori Goff – 43 assists | 14 digs | 3 aces
Gracie Beilby – 11 digs | 1 ace

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the first set on a kill by Bakken.
• Behind a .300 clip, CSUSM claimed the first set 25-20 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
• With 13 ties and six lead changes, the Cougars came out victorious in the second set with a 25-22 win to move to 2-0 in the match.
• Biola led for a majority of the third set with CSUSM cutting the Eagles' lead to two at 19-17 on a BU attacking error.
• The Eagles finished the third set with a .344 clip to take the win at 25-19 and to cut CSUSM's lead in the match to 2-1.
• Biola evened the match at 2-2 with a 25-13 win in the fourth set to force a fifth set.
• CSUSM took a quick 3-0 lead in the fifth set, but the Eagles quickly responded with a four-point run. The Cougars closed the gap to 10-9 on a solo block by Bakken, but Biola clinched the comeback victory with a 5-2 run.

MATCH 2: CSUSM 0 – LEWIS 3 (17-25, 20-25, 13-25)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Trinity Barr – 11 kills | .409 clip | 11 digs
Sofia Hedqvist – 10 kills
Mia Christensen – 8 digs | 4 assists

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Flyers dominated the opening set with a .483 clip, taking the set at 25-17.
• CSUSM battled in set two as there was 13 tie scores and four lead changes. The Cougars evened the game 18-all on a Lewis serving error, but the Flyers responded with 7-2 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match on a 25-20 win.
• Lewis captured the sweep with a 25-13 third set.
   

QUICK HITS

• Lewis is receiving votes in the AVCA/TARAFLEX Division II Preseason Poll. 
• The Cougars are now 0-2 in the all-time series against Lewis.
• This marks the first time in the CSUSM-Biola all-time series that the match was decided in more than three sets.

UP NEXT
CSUSM will wrap up the PNLU/CSUSM Seaside Invitational on Saturday with a pair of matches on the campus of Point Loma. The Cougars will face Seattle Pacific at 2 p.m. before facing Point Loma in the tournament finale at 7 p.m.