VIDEO: JODY GARRY, JESSICA MALCOLM ON ROUTE 92 CLASSIC, CCAA OPENER

LIVE STATS  |  LIVE VIDEO



SEASIDE, Calif. -- After a solid 6-2 performance in its two preconference tournaments, the Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team will get its first taste of conference competition this weekend when it hosts Chico State (Friday) and Cal State Stanislaus (Saturday) in The Kelp Bed. First serve both nights is 7 p.m.

If recent history is any indication, the match with Chico State should be a barn-burner. Six of the last eight matches between the Otters and Wildcats have gone the distance, including Chico's 25-22, 25-17, 19-25, 20-25, 15-11 win in Seaside last season.

Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Malcolm (Lodi HS) enters the weekend leading the CCAA in kills with 133. Fellow outside hitter Julia Ashen (North Salinas HS) is fourth with 119, making CSUMB the only school with two players ranked in the CCAA's Top 10. Ashen, in fact,  leads the CCAA and ranks No. 6 nationally in terms of kills per set (4.76). Malcolm is No. 26 nationally (4.09 kps).

Junior setter Kelsey Johnston (Ripon HS) ranks No. 21 in this week's national rankings in assists (10.81 aps). Johnston enters the weekend with 1,566 career assists as she continues to close in on Nicki Sanderson's Otter record of 2,143.

As a team, the Otters rank No. 7 in the nation in assists (13.63 apg), No. 22 in attack percentage (.252) and No. 10 in kills per set (14.46). Although the NCAA does not list an official leader in total kills, nobody at the Division II level entered the week with more than CSUMB's 506.

As a reminder, if you can't make it to The Kelp Bed this weekend, use the links above to follow all the action with live stats and live video on www.OtterAthlics.com.