CARSON, Calif. — Senior Julia Ashen (North Salinas HS) continues to round into form from an injury–plagued preseason. Saturday night, Ashen needed just three sets to put down a season–high 15 kills, leading Cal State Monterey Bay past Cal State Dominguez Hills, 25–18, 25–23, 25–16 in The Torodome.

Dominguez Hills scored the first three points of the match, but it was all Otters after that. CSUMB posted its first sweep of the season while notching its fifth consecutive win over the Toros.

The Otters responded to the early CSUDH spurt with a 12–3 run of their own to take control of the first set. The Toros stayed close in the second set, but when DJ Gresham-Ryder (Stockton/Chavez HS) and Amber Tygart (Yucaipa HS) combined to block Bridget Heins at 14–14, the Otters took the lead and never trailed again for the balance of the match.

"We did a great job applying and adjusting to our game plan," said CSUMB Head Coach Jody Garry (@JodyGarry). "We needed to take bigger swings out of system and we did that. Lei (Moleta) made some great set choices and the serving game picked up in the third set. We showed real calm intensity."

In addition to Ashen, Jessica Malcolm (Lodi HS) chipped in eight kills while Gresham-Ryder and Tygart added four blocks apiece. Rachel Cookus (Thousand Oaks HS) led the back row with 14 digs and Leana Moleta (Palmdale/Paraclete HS) quarterbacked the offense with 33 assists.

CSUMB returns to The Kelp Bed to kick off a 3–match homestand Wednesday (Oct. 1) when Cal State East Bay visits for a 7 p.m. first serve.