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BELMONT, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team flashed its depth Friday afternoon, but as usual, one of the starters stole the show. This time, it was sophomore outside hitter Jessica Malcolm (Lodi HS) who put on a record-setting performance as the Otters swept their opening two matches at the Route 92 Classic in Walter Gleason Gym.

With junior outside hitter Julia Ashen (North Salinas HS) in street clothes, Malcolm broke Ashen's record for kills in a four-set match by putting 27 balls on the floor in a 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24 win over co-host Notre Dame de Namur to start the day. She came back to lead all players with 12 kills and a season-high 15 digs in a 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 win over Holy Names University Friday evening.

Although Malcolm carried the offense, she was far from a one-woman show Friday. Every Otter in uniform saw action and the only players who didn't record kills were the liberos and defensive specialists. And those players contributed in a big way as well, led by Rachel Cookus (Thousand Oaks HS) and Lacee Ventura (Salinas HS), who combined for 36 digs out of the back row against NDNU.

Head Coach Jody Garry substituted liberally in both victories, mixing and matching her lineups in a variety of combinations and finding success with most of them. Sophomore outside hitter Anne Baker (Valencia/Hart HS) made the most of her starting opportunity, striking for 16 kills, including a career-high 10 in the win over Holy Names. Sophomore setter Leana Moleta (Palmdale/Paraclete HS) took advantage of her chance to run a 5-1 offense against HNU and dished 25 assists in the final two sets.

While many contributed, the wins revolved around Malcolm, who put the Otters on her back early against NDNU, collecting nine kills in set one and seven more in set two. After the Argonauts evened the match at a set apiece, she took control early in the third, registering kills on two of the first four Otter points to give CSUMB a quick lead it wouldn't relinquish.

She put down a more pedestrian three kills in the decisive fourth set, but her final one snapped a 24-24 tie. She then went back to the line and served the match point to secure the win.

The Otters weren't challenged at the same level against Holy Names, but had to fight to win the first and third sets. They played some of their best volleyball of the season in the second set, hitting a collective .480 while siding out at 68 percent to win going away.

CSUMB (5-1 overall) concludes play at the Route 92 Classic Saturday, traveling across the bay to take on Academy of Art at 9 a.m. and Azusa Pacific at 3 p.m. in Cal State East Bay's Pioneer Gym.