SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal Poly Pomona volleyball team enjoyed an efficient, balanced attack Saturday to make quick work of Academy of Art in three sets (25-15, 25-17, 25-18) to wrap up action at the Otter Classic, hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay at the Otter Sports Center.
 
The Broncos improve to 2-1 this season while the Urban Knights fell to 0-3.
 
Madison Novak continued her offensive prowess this weekend, leading CPP with 10 kills while both Kaitlan Tucker and Samantha Campion each chipped in with seven kills. Caitie Mueller (21 assists) and Giselle Vogel (13 assists) shared setting duties in the contest, while Campion and Mackenzie Sullivan recorded double-digit digs with 14 and 10, respectively.
 
Avery Percival came off the bench in all three sets to serve three aces, in addition to being perfect in 16 serve-reception attempts. Tucker again built the wall at the net, rejecting six attacks in the victory.
 
The match featured just 10 ties and three lead changes, half of them coming in the third and final set. After cruising to convincing wins in the first two sets, the Broncos struggled to pull out in front early, as the Urban Knights went toe-to-toe with CPP and held a 7-6 lead at one point. However, the Green and Gold regained its stride, scoring eight straight points to take a 14-7 lead. Academy of Art wouldn't go down without a fight, coming within two points at 17-15, but Cal Poly Pomona would prove to be too much down the stretch, scoring eight of the final 11 points to secure the sweep, including the final three points thanks to kills by Novak.
 
In the end, the Broncos, who led the CCAA in hitting percentage last season, hit .362 as a team while holding the Urban Knights to just .090.
 
Academy of Art was led by Katherine Von Kraut, who had nine kills, and Amalie Rupertova, who tallied eight kills, combining for 17 of the team's 25 kills in the contest.
 
Cal Poly Pomona returns to action next Friday in San Diego as part of the Seaside Invitational, hosted by Point Loma. The Broncos face Simon Fraser (2:30 pm) and Concordia (7:30 pm) before wrapping up their 2022 non-conference schedule Saturday at Noon against host Point Loma.
 
Bronco Bits: Head coach Traci Dahl moves to 35-22 in her fourth year (third season) at Cal Poly Pomona … The Broncos lead the all-time series against the Urban Knights, winning two out of the three matched played between the two programs … As a program, CPP is now 754-530 all-time, including 192-136 in neutral-site matches since the program's inception in 1980 … CPP is now 309-204 in three-set matches, and improve to 45-25 all-time in the month of August.
 
All home matches and most away contests will stream live online via the CCAA Network at www.ccaanetwork.com. You may also download the CCAA Network app on your iOS or Android smartphone, tablet, or through web streaming devices such as Amazon Fire, Roku or Apple TV. For $9.95 per month, subscribers will have access to all CCAA broadcasts, both live and on-demand, for one low monthly price. Over half of each monthly subscription purchase will go directly back to the CCAA Athletic Department of your choice to support the student-athlete experience. Sign-ups are available right now at each universities' network portal. Just go to CCAAnetwork.com, select your favorite team at the top and the 'click to subscribe.'

Tickets are also on sale now for all CPP home matches. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online prior to coming to campus at broncoathletics.com/tickets or by downloading the HomeTown Fan app on your smartphone or tablet. New this year, only debit and credit cards will be accepted at the box office for admission. Limited concession items will be on sale on-site as well, but the concession stand will only accept cash.

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