BELMONT, Calif.—Despite a hot start, it was a tough day for the Cal State Monterey Bay volleyball team Saturday at the Route 92 Showdown. The Otters saw a 2–0 lead slip away in a morning loss to Academy of Art before host Notre Dame de Namur finished tournament play with a sweep of the Otters in Gleason Gym.

Art U took the opener 22-25, 14-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-4. NDNU won 25-21, 25-18, 25-22.

CSUMB (1–3 overall) appeared to be rolling after taking the first two sets in relative comfort. After taking a 12-7 lead in the third set, however, the wheels fell off the wagon and the Urban Knights stormed back for a 25-21 win.

The Otter nearly climbed out of a 23-13 hole in the fourth set, pulling to within 23-22 before Art escaped to even the set. The Urban Knights then raced to an 11-2 lead to cruise to an easy fifth set win.

Against the Argonauts, CSUMB yielded big early runs in all three sets. The Otters almost came back to take the third set, grabbing a 22-21 lead after trailing 10-4 early, but NDNU scored the final four points to end the affair.

Senior Jessica Malcolm (Lodi HS) led the Otter offense by reaching double figures for the third time in four matches this season. She had 21 kills in the opener against Art U and 10 against NDNU. Rachel Cookus (Thousand Oaks HS) totaled 40 digs Saturday, including 22 in against the Urban Knights.

The Otters return to action for their home opener Friday, Sept. 11 against Stanislaus State. It will be a rare nonconference match against their CCAA rival.