SAN MARCOS, Calif. –  The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team (5-20, 4-13 CCAA) defeated UC Merced (6-20, 5-12 CCAA) in four sets (25-22, 15-25, 25-18, 25-18) on Friday night at The Sports Center in San Marcos.

TOP PERFORMERS

• Addison Kranz – 19 kills | .286 hitting | 1 block
• Blayne Seligmiller – 10 kills | .212 hitting | 2 blocks | 2 aces
• Hazel Livingston-Jones – 6 kills | .357 hitting | 2 blocks
• Blair Keith – 39 assists | 15 digs | 1 block
• Annika Blas-Cedeno – 21 digs | 4 assists | 2 aces

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Set 1 (25-22): CSUSM jumped out to a 6-2 lead behind kills from Blayne Seligmiller and Ebony Lewis. UC Merced rallied to tie at 16-16, but the Cougars closed on a 9-6 run, capped by kills from Addison Kranz and Seligmiller.
• Set 2 (15-25): UC Merced controlled the second frame with a 7-2 start and never trailed. Natalie Riley led the Bobcats with multiple kills during a 6-1 run that put the set out of reach.
• Set 3 (25-18): CSUSM responded strongly, using a 5-0 run midway through the set that included two service aces from Seligmiller to build a 21-17 lead. Kranz sealed the set with back-to-back kills.
• Set 4 (25-18): The Cougars dominated late, turning a 12-11 edge into a 20-14 lead with kills from Kranz and Ebony Lewis. Annika Blas-Cedeno's service ace clinched the match point.

QUICK HITS

• The Cougars led in kills (46-44), digs (73-63) and blocks (6-4).
• Blair Keith registered her fourth consecutive double-double, sixth of the season, with 39 assists and 15 digs.
• This was the first meeting in program history between the two teams as UC Merced is in its second year of transitioning to NCAA Division II.

UP NEXT
CSUSM will close out its season on Saturday, Nov. 15, hosting Cal State Monterey Bay at The Sports Center with first serve scheduled for 5 p.m. Prior to the first serve, CSUSM will recognize its lone senior, Kylie Bartel.