Cal Poly Pomona Athletics

POMONA, Calif. - Cal Poly Pomona opened the Bronco Classic with a straight-set victory over Central Washington, defeating the Wildcats 25-19, 25-23 and 25-22 Thursday at Kellogg Arena. The match marked the 1,400^th in program history.
 
The Broncos improved to 4-1 on the season after posting 44 kills and a .257 hitting percentage. Alexia Athans delivered an efficient performance with 11 kills on 19 attacks and only one error, finishing with a match-high .526 hitting percentage. This season, Athans ranks first in the CCAA with a .582 attack percentage on 55 total attempts.
 
Sarah Ybarra and Elle Walker also recorded 11 kills apiece, while Charlotte Koerber added nine kills. Alexia Zammit distributed 22 assists and Paige Bowyer contributed 15. Renee Nachtigall led the back row with 10 digs, while CPP recorded six service aces.
 
Central Washington built a 5-1 advantage in the opening set before the Broncos responded. CPP pulled even at 5-5 and later used a 5-0 run, featuring three Koerber kills, to turn a 12-13 deficit into a 17-13 lead. The Broncos hit .520 in the frame and closed it on a Wildcat attack error.
 
CPP again erased an early deficit in the second set. Trailing 11-9, consecutive aces from Zammit and a Ybarra kill gave the Broncos a 12-11 edge. Central Washington regained control at 18-15, but CPP answered with three straight points. With the score tied at 22, the Broncos earned consecutive points on Wildcat attack errors before Koerber finished the set with a kill.
 
The Broncos appeared to take command of the third set with a 7-2 run that created an 18-12 cushion. Central Washington rallied to tie the frame at 19, but Walker halted the run with a kill. Ybarra then delivered consecutive kills to extend the margin to 23-20 before Limbrick's ace brought CPP to match point. A Central Washington service error completed the sweep.
 
 
Up Next
The Broncos will play again tomorrow, September 4^th, at 5:00 PM against No. 24 ranked Western Washington. The Broncos are 4-5 all-time against the Vikings, including wins in their past two meetings in 2024 and 2025.
 
 
Bronco Bits

• The Broncos are now 3-7 all-time against Central Washington, with Thursday's win marking CPP's first win against the Wildcats since 2007.
• Traci Dahl is now 125-46 (.731) as head coach of the Broncos, including 56-18 at home.
• Now in its 46th season, CPP Volleyball is 846-554 (.604) all-time with a 330-164 (.668) record in home matches. Thursday marked CPP's 1,400^th match.
• Cal Poly Pomona is an impressive 32-8 in non-conference regular season matches since the start of the 2021 season.
• The last time the team started with a 4-1 record was 2024.
• Charlotte Koerber (153 to go) and Sarah Ybarra (143 to go) are closing in on 1,000 kills in their collegiate career.
• Charlotte Koerber (167 to go) and Renee Nachtigall (144 to go) are closing in on 1,000 digs in their collegiate career.