BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

SAN DIEGO — Two more tough battles resulted in two more defeats for the Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team as the Otters fell to a pair of highly–respected opponents to close play at the Seaside Invitational Saturday evening.

CSUMB fell to No. 32 Metro State 17–25, 25–22, 25–8, 25–10 in a late morning match before Azusa Pacific rallied to earn a 25–20, 28–30, 18–25, 25–21, 15–8 win Saturday night.

Junior outside hitter Jessica Malcolm (Lodi HS) led the Otter offense again, putting down 10 kills versus Metro State and 13 more against APU. Sophomore middle blocker Janai Johnson (Sacramento/Bradshaw Christian) dominated at the net, ending her day with 10 total blocks, including seven in the finale against APU.

Junior libero Rachel Cookus (Thousand Oaks HS) made the biggest statistical splash of the day, collecting 40 digs—including 23 versus APU—to become the fifth player in Otter history to surpass 1,000 career digs. Cookus ended the night with 1,012 digs. She is 365 digs away from Katie Bos' school record of 1,377. That's a mark well within reach for Cookus this season at her current pace.

Things appeared ready to fall in place for the Otters early against Metro State. After winning the first set easily, they nearly made an incredible comeback in the second, rallying from 19–9 down to within 24–22 before falling.

But any momentum they mustered in that comeback faded midway through the third set, which the Roadrunners finished with a 17–3 run to take control. Metro then won nine of the first 11 points in the fourth set to pull away.

After falling in the opening set to APU, the Otters staved off a pair of set points in the second to even the match with a 30–28 win. CSUMB broke an 11–11 tie in the third with a quick 4–0 run en route to the 25–18 win and a 2–1 match lead.

The Cougars turned the tables on the Otters in the fourth set, breaking a 10–10 tie with a 5–0 run that proved to be too much for the Otters to overcome. APU then began the decisive fifth set with a 9–2 burst. The teams split the final 12 points as APU completed the comeback.

CSUMB returns to the friendly confines of The Kelp Bed to play its 2014 home openers Sept. 12–13. The Otters host Humboldt State Friday and No. 6 Cal State San Bernardino Saturday. First serve both nights is at 7 p.m.