BOX SCORE

POMONA, Calif. — The Otters started fast and junior setter Kelsey Johnston (Ripon HS) rewrote the Cal State Monterey Bay record book (again), but Cal Poly Pomona finished with a flurry to upend CSUMB 17–25, 25–23, 25–13, 25–19 Thursday night in Kellogg Gym.

Johnston notched 34 assists to surpass Nicki Sanderson's CSUMB career assist record of 2,143. Johnston now owns the Otter records for assists in a career (2,147), a season (1,020 in 2012) and a match (62 vs. Cal Baptist on Sept. 6).

But Johnston's record–breaking night wasn't enough to stop Cal Poly, which came within two points of going down 0–2 in the match to blow past the Otters in the final two sets. CSUMB never trailed in the first set, but never led after a Victory Clardy (Westminster/Marina HS) kill made it 21–20 Otters late in the second.

Pomona sprinted to an 11–3 lead in the third set to take control of the match. CSUMB stayed close early in the fourth, forging its final tie at 11–11 on another Clardy kill, but the Broncos eased away from that point to seal the win.

Sophomore Jessica Malcolm (Lodi HS) led both teams with 19 kills, including the put–away on Johnston's record–setting assist in the fourth set. Clardy added 11 kills for her 10th double–digit match of the season to go along with a match–high four blocks. Junior Julia Ashen (North Salinas HS) chipped in a 10–kill, 14–dig double–double.

CSUMB (13–9, 7–7 CCAA) concludes its current 4–match roadtrip Saturday night at Humboldt State in Arcata. The Otters return home to host Cal State Dominguez Hills Nov. 8 in The Kelp Bed.