SAN MARCOS – The 21st-ranked Cal Poly Pomona volleyball team used an effective all-around performance from its offense and defense in defeating host Cal State San Marcos 19-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-20 on Saturday afternoon at The Sports Center.
The Broncos, listed eighth in this week's initial NCAA Division II West Region poll, improved to 20-3 overall and 13-3 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with their sixth consecutive win. The Cougars fell to 12-10 overall and 9-7 in the CCAA.
Four Broncos had double figures in kills, led by 17 from sophomore
Jazmyn Wheeler and 15 from sophomore
Daisy Duke. Another sophomore,
Kaitlan Tucker, and freshman
Madison Novak finished with 10 kills apiece.
In addition to a balanced and efficient offensive outing – Cal Poly Pomona had a .305 hitting percentage – the Broncos were solid defensively, totaling 78 digs and eight blocks. Four players had at least 10 digs, led by 19 from Wheeler, 14 from senior
Brynn Sherbert, 13 from senior setter
Kira Zimmerman, and 12 from junior
Mackenzie Sullivan.
The Broncos' offense took some time to warm up Saturday afternoon, as they hit just .211 in the opening set. That frame was the closest of the night, with 15 ties and seven lead changes, with Cal State San Marcos ultimately scoring the last seven points to overcome a 19-18 deficit and take the early 1-0 match lead.
Cal Poly Pomona responded in the ensuing three sets, incrementally improving its hitting percentage with .275, .314, and .421 marks, respectively, in sets two through four. The Broncos committed just eight hitting errors in the final three frames, compared to five in the first set.
The visiting Broncos did not trail in the second or fourth sets, taking early leads before eventually breaking free from the Cougars. Duke was the offensive catalyst in the second set with six kills and a .625 percentage, while Novak and Wheeler were the standouts in the fourth and final frame.
Cal State San Marcos received a match-high 18 kills from Kassy Doering, who kept the Cougars close with a .531 hitting percentage. Stephanie Adams added 12 kills and 12 digs for CSUSM.
Cal Poly Pomona returns home for its final two regular season matches next week in Kellogg Arena. The Broncos take on Stanislaus State on Thursday (Nov. 11) and Chico State on Friday (Nov. 12), with both matches starting at 7 p.m. They will then begin postseason play at the CCAA Championship Tournament in San Bernardino on Nov. 18.
