BOX SCORE


SEASIDE, Calif. -- Most nights, 27 kills and 17 digs by junior outside hitter Julia Ashen (North Salinas HS) would be the headline in a Cal State Monterey Bay victory. Friday wasn't most nights, however, as junior setter Kelsey Johnston (Ripon HS) out-shined Ashen with a school record 62 assists in a five set win over Cal Baptist at the Otter Volleyball Classic in The Kelp Bed.

Johnston smashed the previous mark of 58 assists set by Nikki Sanderson against Cal State Stanislaus on Oct. 1, 2004 and helped the Otters rally to a 23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 15-6 win.

Of course, Ashen played a big role in the record-setting performance. Her 27 kills were the fifth most in a match in CSUMB history and the most by anybody not named Rheann Fall. They also represented Ashen's personal best.

CSUMB (2-0) lost the first set and appeared on the brink of letting the match slip away when Cal Baptist (0-2) raced to a 9-1 lead to open the second. But Johnston and Ashen pulled the Otters back with 17 assists and eight kills respectively in the set to start the comeback.

Ashen had nine kills and Johnston 15 assists in CSUMB's third set win before the Lancers made an early 6-0 run hold up in the fourth set to even the match. But the Otters scored seven of the first eight points in the fifth to take control.

In addition to Johnston and Ashen, sophomore Jessica Malcolm (Lodi HS) put down a career-high 18 kills. Kim McCalmont led Cal Baptist with 18 kills and 19 digs.

CSUMB returns to action Saturday morning when it finishes pool play at the Otter Volleyball Classis by meeting Academy of Art at 11 a.m. Cal Baptist will meet Saint Martin's University at 1 p.m.