CARSON, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team has punched its ticket to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship after recording a five-set thriller at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday night at the Torodome.
CSUSM 3 – Cal State Dominguez Hills 2 (25-22, 24-26, 25-23, 24-26, 15-8)
TOP PERFORMERS
Olivia Aguilar – 18 kills | .485 attack percentage | 16 digs | 7 blocks
Micah Hébert – 18 kills | .412 attack percentage
Maddy Newcombe – 16 kills | 14 digs
Kassy Doering – 8 blocks | .417 attack percentage
HOW IT HAPPENED •After giving up the opening point, CSUSM led until the Toros evened the game at 14 points apiece. An Aguilar kill put the Cougars back on top as they went on to take the first set at 25-22.
•Neither team took a larger lead than three points until the 21-17 mark when Newcombe connected on a kill. CSUDH scored four unanswered points to even the match at 1-1 with a 26-24 second set win.
• The Cougars recorded a come-from-behind 25-23 third-set win with six consecutive points, four coming off blocks.
•Trailing by as many as seven points, the Cougars rally fell just a bit short as CSUDH forced a fifth set with a 26-24 fourth set victory.
•CSUSM dominated the fifth set with a .409 attack percentage to win 15-8.
QUICK HITS •The Cougars concluded their regular season with a 13-12 record (8-8 CCAA) while the Toros saw its 2018 campaign come to an end at 9-16 (4-13 CCAA).
•Hébert recorded a career-high with her 18 kills.
•Aguilar’s double-double of 18 kills and 16 digs are both season-highs.
•CSUSM tallied above a .300 attack percentage for the third time this season, finishing with a .302 clip.
•Newcombe registered her seventh double-double of the season with 16 kills and 14 digs.
•Her eight blocks is a career-high for Doering in her sophomore season.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will face Cal State East Bay, the No. 1 seed in the North Division, on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Ed and Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena on the campus of Stanislaus State in Turlock.
