SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team (3-4) rallied from a two-set deficit and fought off three match points in the fourth before falling to UC Merced (3-4) in five sets (22-25, 18-25, 25-17, 28-26, 9-15) Saturday evening in The Cougar Classic finale at The Sports Center.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Addison Kranz
Blayne Seligmiller
CSUSM 2 – UC MERCED 3 (22-25, 18-25, 25-17, 28-26, 9-15)
TOP PERFORMERS
Blayne Seligmiller – 13 kills | 5 blocks | 3 digs
Addison Kranz – 12 kills | 3 digs | 1 block
Hazel Livingston-Jones – 7 kills | .300 hitting percentage | 5 blocks
Blair Keith – 32 assists | 13 digs | 1 ace | 1 block
Annika Blas-Cedeno – 18 digs | 4 assists | 1 ace
McKenna Kehoe – 14 digs | 11 assists | 2 kills
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSUSM used an 8-1 run to turn a 7-6 lead into a 15-7 advantage in the opening set. UC Merced responded with an 11-3 run to tie the score at 18-all. The Cougars moved back ahead at 20-18, but UC Merced scored seven of the final nine points to take the set 25-22.
- The Cougars scored the first two points of the second set before UC Merced answered with a 6-1 run. Consecutive Eleanor Brislen aces pulled CSUSM even at 6-all, but UC Merced regained the lead and used a 6-2 stretch to build an 18-12 advantage on its way to a 25-18 win.
- With the third set tied at 5-all, CSUSM went on a 6-1 run to take an 11-6 lead. The Cougars later scored seven of eight points to extend their advantage to 20-11. CSUSM held UC Merced to a .065 hitting percentage and took the set 25-17.
- CSUSM erased deficits of 7-3 and 14-10 in the fourth set before scoring four consecutive points to take an 18-17 lead. The Cougars later went ahead 23-21, but UC Merced fought back and had match point three times. Kills by Lewis and Livingston-Jones kept CSUSM alive before Kranz and Seligmiller recorded consecutive kills to give the Cougars a 28-26 victory.
- UC Merced opened the deciding set with a 3-0 run and took an 8-4 lead at the changeover. CSUSM pulled within two at 10-8 following a UC Merced attack error and a Lewis ace, but UC Merced closed the match on a 5-1 run.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM led in service aces (8-6) and blocks (9-6).
- UC Merced held advantages in kills (66-54), assists (63-50) and digs (92-71).
- CSUSM's best offensive set was the third, when it hit .212 and held UC Merced to a .065 clip.
- The Cougars' 27 attack errors were one fewer than UC Merced's 28.
- The loss was CSUSM's first against UC Merced, with the Cougars now leading the all-time series 6-1.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will remain at home to open CCAA play against Cal State East Bay at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at The Sports Center.
