OTTERS vs. BRONCOS HIGHLIGHTS


SEASIDE, Calif. — The Cal State Monterey bay volleyball team couldn't sustain fast starts in the first three sets, falling to Cal Poly Pomona 29–31, 21–25, 25–11, 18–25 Saturday night in The Kelp Bed.

The Otters had seven sets points in the opening frame but couldn't finish as the Broncos rallied for the win. A 15–10 lead in Set 2 also disappeared in a 15–6 Pomona run to end the set..

CSUMB jumped to a 7–1 lead in the third set and didn't take their collective foot off the gas to stay alive. But Pomona pulled away late in what was a tight fourth set, using a 10–2 run to blow the match open.

Maddy Underwood (Spokane, Wash./Mead HS) led three Otters in double figures with 14 kills. Ashlynne Armstrong (Norco HS) anchored the back row with 20 digs..
 

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THE MATCH WAS OVER WHEN… Deanna Blaine put down her 10th kill of the match then went to the service line to serve six consecutive points to take the drama out of a tight fourth set. When she finished, the Broncos led 20–12.

PLAYOFF PICTURE… Saturday's loss officially ends CSUMB's run to a CCAA tournament berth.

KJOLBERG STEPS UP… Freshman outside hitter Rachel Kjolberg (Anthem, Ariz./Boulder Creek HS) came off the bench to post the best numbers of her young career. She went 5–0–14 to hit .357. All three numbers were collegiate bests.

LEADERS OF THE RAFT… KILLS: Maddy Underwood 14; BLOCKS: Chandler McKean 4; ACES: Ashlynne Armstrong 3; ASSISTS: Whitney Hirst 29; DIGS: Ashylynne Armstrong 20.

SKYLER ALLEN NIGHT… The Otters celebrated the career of 4–year letterwinner Skyler Allen (Riverside Poly HS) prior to Saturday night's match. Allen is the only senior on the 2016 Otter roster.

THE LAST WORD… "We didn't execute tonight. We keep creating opportunities to win and can't close out. I thought Whitney Hirst did a great job for us tonight and freshman Rachel Kjolberg came off he bench and played fearless. We need more of that mindset to finish off the season." — CSUMB Head Coach Moe Melhart

THEY'VE GOT NEXT… The Otters play their final home match of the 2016 season when they host Cal State East Bay Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.