Cougars Sweep PacWest Schools to Close Out D2 West Region Showcase
IRVINE, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos volleyball team captured a pair of wins against PacWest Conference opponents Notre Dame de Namur and host Concordia Irvine on Saturday in the D2 West Region Showcase.
MATCH 1: CSUSM 3 – NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR 1 (25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 25-17)
TOP PERFORMERS
Courtney Hulla – 21 kills | .419 attack percentage
Maddy Newcombe – 18 kills |16 digs
Aleese Wheaton – 27 assists | 18 digs
Haley Montgomery – 8 digs | 4 aces
Grecia Cordero-Barr – 19 digs
HOW IT HAPPENED •Both teams battled in set one, keeping the score close with nine ties. CSUSM scored its final two points on a solo block and kill by Faith Fortuné.
•The second set was a repeat of the first before CSUSM put up three uncontested points to break a 22-22 tie.
•Eight errors in the third set haunted the Cougars. It was the Argonauts turn to respond after a 22-22 tie with three consecutive points.
•Behind a match-high .356 hitting percentage with 17 kills and only one error, the Cougars pulled away at the 12-12 point in the fourth set with a 9-3 run to collect the match victory.
MATCH 2: CSUSM 3 – CONCORDIA IRVINE 0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-22)
TOP PERFORMERS •Kassy Doering – 10 kills | 2 digs
•Courtney Hulla – 9 kills | 6 digs
•Aleese Wheaton – 20 assists | 11 digs
•Grecia Cordero-Barr – 16 digs
HOW IT HAPPENED •CSUSM dominated in the first set, jumping out to a 5-0 lead and extended it to 13-4.
•The Cougars forced a match-high nine Eagle errors in the second set. It took five set points before CSUSM could clinch the set win.
•The Cougars got off to a slow start in the third set, finding themselves down 7-2. CSUSM turned on the pressure and evened the set at 12 points. The Cougars closed out the set with a 3-1 run to record the sweep.
QUICK HITS •Against NDNU, CSUSM served up a season-best nine aces.
•With the pair of wins, CSUSM improves to 4-4 while NDNU and CUI falls to 1-6 and 1-7 on the year, respectively.
•CSUSM’s win over Concordia Irvine is its first in program history after eight meeting.
COACH LEONARD’S COMMENTS
“I am excited for our wins today against two strong teams. Both teams challenged us in various ways and we were able to build on our momentum. Our setters, Aleese Wheaton and Lauren Lee, executed our game plan perfectly. We are ready for conference play next weekend!”
UP NEXT
The Cougars open CCAA action next Saturday, Sept. 8 when they host UC San Diego in The Sports Center. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
