ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Day one of the new season showed a number of quality opponents as the Cal Poly Pomona volleyball team split its first day. The Broncos were unable to win against No. 23 Rockhurst, but came out on top against local rivals Azusa Pacific, winning in five sets. 
 
Rockhurst 3, Cal Poly Pomona 0
 
The 2015 season opener proved a difficult one as the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos volleyball team fell in three sets to No. 23 Rockhurst. In the first couple sets, the Green and Gold had some trouble getting started and fell 25-12 and 25-11 respectively. The third set was more promising but the Green and Gold were unable to complete it as they dropped the set and match with a 25-22 score.
 
In the first set, the Broncos were able to score first, gaining a couple of points on a kill by Deanna Blaine and an attack error by the RU offense. The Hawks gained a bit of momentum from there though as a nine-point spree left the Broncos down 10-3.
 
The Broncos did pull back a bit for the next few points, but they would be left playing catch-up through the remainder of the set. After nearly evening it up at 12-10, the designated visiting team, the Hawks, finished the first set on a 13-2 run.
 
RU carried their momentum into the start of the next set and was able to gain two points before CPP could put up anything. From there, the rest of the match saw the Hawks continue to expand their lead, finishing off with a 25-11 score.
 
What would come to be the third and final set showed the most promise out of the Broncos' squad. The final set went back-and-forth as the Broncos scored first. Both teams put up points at the same rate and the score would remain tied until the board showed 21-21.
 
From there the Rockhurst crew was able to gain a quick three points and put themselves just one point shy of the win. An attack error by RU gave CPP their 22nd and final point and a CPP attack error gave them the match.
 
Blaine had the most kills for the Green and Gold, posting six in the match. She also tallied a total of 12 digs, good for second on the team. Hannah Harrer, Andrea Bosnic, Kirsten Rutledge, and Nicoletta Stork all posted five kills with Harrer being the most efficient at a .500 kill percentage.
 
Zoe Herrera proved the most adept defensively as she provided CPP with 13 digs. Stork and Alina Smith were the top two on squad in terms of sets with 13 and 14 respectively.
 
 
Cal Poly Pomona 3, Azusa Pacific 2
 
The second match of the day for the Green and Gold was a difficult one for the Broncos as well. A hard-fought battle with local rivals Azusa Pacific ended with the Broncos as the victor, winning in the fifth and final set.
 
Head coach Rosie Wegrich's squad was able to hold its own through the beginning of the first set. The Broncos and Cougars were even through seven points each at which point the APU squad pulled ahead and the Green and Gold were left playing catch-up.
 
After an eight-point spread was reached, the Broncos pushed back a little but were not able to close the gap as much as they needed.
 
The second set showed some life in the Bronco squad. They were able to keep the designated visitors on their toes throughout the set. It was a back-and-forth set as the local rivalry rang true.
 
CPP and the Cougars remained within a couple shots of each other until the scoreboard read 24-24. Unfortunately for the Green and Gold, the APU team pulled ahead afterwards and was able to string together a pair of points, giving them the second set.
 
The third set saw the Broncos bounce back. A strong performance by the CPP squad led to a close set but one from which they would emerge victorious. The two teams remained tied until 14-14, but then an APU attack error provided the Green and Gold with the bump they needed to jump in front. They would remain on top the rest of the set, winning 25-20.
 
Set number four was a big win for the CPP squad, upon winning the set they evened the match and sent it to the fifth and final set. Set four saw the Broncos with the lead till APU pulled even at nine points each. The set went back-and-forth after that until CPP pulled ahead and won in extra points with the score of 28-26.
 
The fifth and final set was the Broncos' all the way. They started in the lead and finished that way, winning it 15-8.
 
Leading the charge for the Green and Gold was Hannah Harrer who provided 13 kills. Just behind her was Deanna Blaine who tallied 12 kills. On their tails were Nicoletta Stork and newcomer Kristen Hamlin, who both added 11 kills. Hamlin was the most efficient Bronco in the match, winning 11-of-19 kill attempts.
 
Alina Smith was first on team with 31 sets and Stork amassed 22 of her own. Zoe Herrera added 29 digs in the contest, while Blaine supplied 14 and Lauren Miller dished 10. Blaine and Herrera each had a pair of service aces.
 
Next Match

CPP's next match will be Saturday as a 12:30 p.m. Pacific (11:30 a.m. Alaska) start will show the Broncos challenging No. 5 Nebraska Kearney. The Green and Gold will finish the day and tournament with an 8:30 p.m. Pacific (7:30 p.m. Alaska) start against the host Alaska Anchorage.